RCB wants a bit more time before locking in their home ground.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on January 21, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad confirmed that state authorities have approved IPL matches at Chinnaswamy stadium. There are still a few conditions to meet. Prasad admitted there are some logistical and administrative hurdles, but he’s confident they’ll get the stadium ready on time.
The former India cricketer said that KSCA is working closely with the Karnataka government, aiming for a full green light by the end of February. He stressed that the association’s commitment to meeting every requirement so Bengaluru can once again host big cricket matches, IPL included and international fixtures.
Still, Prasad made one thing clear: RCB needs to make the next move. The team can stick with Bengaluru or or opt for alternate venues such as Navi Mumbai and Raipur, which RCB has already looked into.
“I really hope Royal Challengers Bengaluru play all their home matches here, including the inaugural or opener,” Prasad said. “We’re confident we’ll finish the necessary work on time.” But he also pointed out that RCB hasn’t formally talked to the state government yet.
“The ball’s in RCB’s court now. We expect them to join the discussions with the government so we can make this happen smoothly. Right now, it’s mostly been us putting in the effort,” he added.
The uncertainty around Chinnaswamy Stadium started after a government ban following a deadly stampede during RCB’s trophy celebration-a tragedy that killed 11 people, including kids. Since then, no professional cricket has been played there, and even the Women’s World Cup final had to be moved elsewhere.
Meanwhile, with IPL 2026 on the horizon, the BCCI has told RCB to confirm their home venues by January 27. RCB wants to return to Chinnaswamy, but the state government’s conditions are proving tricky.
Those conditions? RCB must handle not just stadium arrangements but also crowd control outside, follow limits on DJ usage, and make sure fire safety measures-including a fire brigade-are in place. According to reports, the franchise say RCB feels there’s too much responsibility being pushed onto them.
Because of this, RCB has asked for about five days to talk things through with both the government and the KSCA before giving the BCCI a final answer. The franchise also wants KSCA to help more in these talks.
Prasad repeated that KSCA is doing its part. “We’re working to get unconditional clearance from the government by the end of February, so we can hand it over to the BCCI. After that, it’s up to RCB to move forward and bring IPL cricket back to Bengaluru,” he said.
If they can’t work things out, RCB could shift some home games to Navi Mumbai or Raipur. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have already told the BCCI they’ll play their IPL 2026 home matches in Pune, ruling out Jaipur this season.
Whether Bengaluru gets back its spot as RCB’s home for IPL 2026 now comes down to how quickly RCB, the KSCA, and the government can agree.