Chinnaswamy to host RCB five IPL home games

The M will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in five of their home IPL 2026 matches. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the franchise confirmed on Tuesday (March 3). Their remaining two home fixtures will be staged at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The confirmation follows months of uncertainty after the tragic events of June 4, 2025, when a stampede during RCB's victory parade outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives. The incident caused serious concerns regarding event preparedness and crowd safety, which resulted in a temporary halt to cricket at one of the busiest venues in the nation—even its allotted games from the Women's World Cup were moved. What followed was a high-level review involving multiple arms of the state machinery and the constitution of the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Committee, whose recommendations became central to efforts aimed at restoring cricket at the stadium. The Karnataka state government gave a conditional approval on January 17 to resume cricket operations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but only if certain conditions were met. On February 12, a formal clearance was given, which effectively made it possible for RCB to return to the venue they have called home every time the IPL has been played in India. "RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru," a release from the franchise stated. "The defending champions will play the majority of their home games at home due to the collective efforts to increase infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season." Speaking on the development, RCB CEO Rajesh Menon added: "The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home field; it is also the place where our team's true identity comes to life. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have always supported us, and they ought to have the chance to watch their team play at home." "We are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru after extensive discussions and the completion of the necessary due process regarding permissions." We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the Karnataka Government, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police in making this possible." Although the IPL 2026 schedule remains contingent on the declaration of election dates in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where KKR and CSK are based, the confirmation from RCB could now pave the way for the announcement. The Indian Premier League has a long history in Raipur. It has previously hosted six matches in the tournament, serving as a temporary base for the Delhi Daredevils, as the Delhi Capitals were known then. Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 54 in the most recent of those matches, which also featured RCB. Traditionally, the opening game of a new IPL season features the defending champions at their home ground, and so it will be in 2026 as well. Later that day, KSCA secretary Santosh Menon said that Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium will also host the tournament final and a playoff game on May 31.