Will the IPL 2026 matches be held at Chinnaswamy Stadium?Image Credit source: PTI
The auction for next year’s IPL season is going to take place in a few days. Only after this the dates and schedule of the next season will be announced. Although every year the IPL schedule is eagerly awaited, but this time it is going to be more important than before because everyone wants to know whether the matches will be held in Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium or not? The Board of Control for Cricket in India can take this decision in the next few weeks, but even before the Board, the Karnataka Government has announced on its part that this time also IPL will be organized in Bengaluru.
‘Will not shift IPL to any other place’
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Government, DK Shivakumar, while talking to the media on Sunday 7 December, announced that IPL matches will continue to be played at Chinnaswamy Stadium in future also. He made this announcement during voting in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections. After casting his vote in the KSCA elections, Shivakumar said, “We IPL Will not shift it to any other place and will continue to organize it here at Chinnaswamy. This is the pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka, which we will maintain.”
There was an accident in the RCB parade
This statement of Shivakumar has come amidst uncertainty regarding Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the IPL 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the tournament title for the first time after 17 seasons of failure. The enthusiasm of RCB fans in the city regarding this was at its peak. In such a situation, when the entire RCB team reached Bengaluru on June 4 to celebrate the victory, a large crowd of fans was present. Earlier, a program was held in the Assembly, in which the entire cabinet including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the state participated. After this the team reached Chinnaswamy Stadium and there was a celebration there. But at the same time a stampede broke out outside the stadium, in which 11 fans died, while around 50 were also injured.
RCB looking for a new venue
Since this accident, Karnataka government, KSCA and RCB are continuously under the scanner. Even a case has been filed in the court against KSCA and RCB. Since then, BCCI has not organized any match at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Even the Women’s World Cup matches were snatched from Bengaluru. Due to this, there is doubt whether the matches of the next IPL season will be held here or not. Due to this, recently there were reports that RCB is considering Pune as its home venue for the next season.