M.Chinnaswamy Stadium is finally set to host the home matches of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
In other words, RCB will play 5 out of 7 home games in Bengaluru. The Shaheen Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur will host the remaining two home fixtures of RCB.
Chinnaswamy, known as the homeground of the defending champions, has been out of action following the Stampede incident in June 2025, where RCB celebrated its maiden IPL triumph.
Chinnaswamy Stadium Beyond Home Ground? RCB CEO’s Answer
Rajesh Menon, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RCB, said that the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been the main identity of RCB over the years:
“Yes! We are pleased to confirm that RCB will play its five home matches in Bengaluru. This confirmation comes after detailed discussions and the fulfillment of the required processes to obtain permissions.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium has not only been our homeground, but also defines our identity as a dream come true moment.
The energy from the homecrowd has been a driving force for our players, which has inspired them to overcome tough phases of a match. Thanks to our fans, who showed their unconditional love and support. Certainly, they deserve an opportunity to watch their favorite team play at home.
We sincerely dedicate our thankfulness to the Government of Karnataka, the state police, and the KSCA for extending their support and making this happen,” Menon voiced his opinion.
Chinnaswamy Stadium Recent Upgrades Ahead of IPL 2026
In January this year, the Karnataka government approved hosting cricket matches at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, strict safety and operational measures had to be followed.
RCB received formal clearance the previous month to host matches at their homeground. Moreover, the state authorities have initiated a 17-point infrastructure plan for the Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium (KSCA) to fulfill the short-term requirements after the stampede incident.
All the pending works at the stadium should be completed by March 15 (Sunday), which includes:
- Expanding the entry and exit gates.
- Setting up a proper path for emergency vehicles and services.
- Utilizing the National Cricket Academy (NCA) premises, the large crowd can be moved into the stands.
Most importantly, the Karnataka government has mandated allowing a few more fans inside the stadium. This ensures not to reduce the spectator capacity and guarantees that the stadium can hold full capacity.
RCB Home Venue Matches to Be Confirmed
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t revealed the entire schedule of IPL 2026 despite a few weeks left for the tournament to commence.
However, it is reported that the announcement could be made either on March 06 or 07 for the initial phase of the schedule (including the first 14 matches). So far, there haven’t been any updates about the IPL season 19 schedule.
As per the virtual meeting held on March 02 (Monday), the IPL Governing Council has hinted that the schedule for the entire season will be revealed in two phases.
Several sources claimed that M.Chinnaswamy Stadium is likely to host the season opener clash, along with a playoff match and final.
The tentative date for IPL 2026 to commence is on March 28, slightly postponed 2 days after the original date of March 26, because of traditional festivals like Ram Navami.
Why M.Chinnaswamy Stadium Came Under Immense Scrutiny?
June 04, 2025 (Wednesday) turned out to be the worst nightmare for RCB as 11 members died and more than 50 individuals were brutally injured in the Stampede incident outside the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Karnataka security forces failed to control a massive crowd of nearly 2.5 to 3 lakh people, who gathered to enjoy the celebration of RCB’s maiden IPL trophy after 18 years of wait.
Since then, several international matches have been moved out of the venue, including the fixtures of the Women’s World Cup 2025 as well. To explain in simpler words, all the core cricketing activities were temporarily suspended from the venue after the tragic incident.
Chinnaswamy, once known as India’s most popular venue to host cricket matches, added huge concern over crowd management, safety measures, and preparedness towards key events following the stampede.
Also Read: RCB Sale 2026: Global Giants Target IPL Franchise Ownership! From US Billionaires to Indian Celebs
Raipur Set to Host RCB’s Remaining 2 Home Matches
The Shaheen Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur is popularly known for hosting IPL fixtures, which include six matches of the Delhi Capitals franchise. Notably, RCB featured against Delhi in the same match at this venue back in 2016, when Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 54-run knock steered the team to a 6-wicket win.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals, as well as other IPL teams like Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, played their matches at two different home venues.
For the first time in IPL history, RCB will split its regular home games between two different venues in a single season. It remains to be seen how Chinnaswamy Stadium hosts the IPL matches once again and attracts a massive crowd at the venue following the stampede incident.
