RCB won only two matches at home in the last season.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden Indian Premier League trophy in the last edition. After lifting the trophy in Ahmedabad for the first time in 18 years, the win by RCB would always be tainted by an unfortunate event in the city of Bengaluru that followed the next day.
After beating the Punjab Kings in the final, legacy player Virat Kohli announced trophy celebrations in Bengaluru. However, the multiple cases of miscommunication, mismanagement, and a lack of civic sense led to a stampede in the city. It cost at least 11 lives and left several injured. Later, the cricket venue was held back from hosting matches, including the KSCA Maharaja Trophy and the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025.
As per the latest order passed by the Karnataka State Government, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have received the clearance to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international matches at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.
The home venue of RCB for 18 years has witnessed some historic matches. However, the unfortunate turn of events in Bengaluru may have triggered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the governing body of IPL to take strict measures.
Last season, Rajat Patidar & Co. lost three home games on the trot before winning the next two. Their last home game, against the Kolkata Knight Riders, was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Notably, it was Virat Kohli’s first match after announcing his retirement from Tests on May 12, 2025.
Previously, in 2016, the IPL final took place at the same ground. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru were up against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. It would’ve been a fairytale to win in front of the home crowd, but SRH lifted their maiden trophy.
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Months after the Bengaluru stampede, the franchise reportedly approached the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s Stadium in Pune as their home venue.
At the same time, the Rajasthan Royals are in the middle of a dispute. The Rajasthan Cricket Association had accused the team of spot fixing during the last season. While the team clearly denied all doubts, they have been looking to shift their home base to Pune. However, at least two of their total home matches will be held in Guwahati.
Recently, on January 4, 2026, MCA released a statement which spoke about both teams, RCB and RR, visiting the stadium in the last few weeks.
The statement MCA also reads, “Considering BCCI’s support for the Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are sure that the Board of Control for Cricket in India will approve the MCA International Stadium as a venue for the upcoming fixtures of one of these teams [RCB, RR] in the near future. With BCCI’s support, Indian Premier League matches can soon be hosted in Pune—bringing high-profile clashes, world-class players, and the electrifying IPL spectacle to cricket fans in the city.”
Conclusively, one of the two teams will have their home matches at the MCA Stadium. It’s a waiting game to see which team will be adopted by Pune, while the other team’s search will continue.
Pune has previously hosted IPL games, especially for their home team, Rising Pune Supergiant, in 2016 and 2017.
The Bengaluru franchise has a global fanbase. The chants of “RCB, RCB” from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium would not be hard to replicate at any other location in India. On the other hand, the fans’ sentiments will be affected irrespective of the decision to continue matches in Bengaluru or not.
A fresh update has emerged on RCB home matches for IPL 2026, with Navi Mumbai and Raipur reported to have been finalised. The TOI broke the news that arrangements have already been made to host matches at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur.
As per the report, five matches will be played in Navi Mumbai and two in Raipur. That confirms RCB won’t return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the next season.
However, with the KSCA now getting the clearance to host IPL and international matches at the venue, all doubts will certainly be put to rest.
It is also understood that the defending IPL champions have ideated a new plan for crowd management after the disaster last year, in a bid to host matches for the IPL 2026 season in Bengaluru itself. RCB has communicated with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) regarding the installation of 300-350 AI-driven cameras and at the same time has agreed to bear the cost of the same too, estimated at around INR 4.5 crore.
While the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allowed the franchise to host their home games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, it is understood that some protocols are yet to be met and some grey areas need to be addressed. RCB and fans alike are waiting with bated breath for a full and final confirmation from KSCA, BCCI, and the Karnataka State government.
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