MI have opposed RCB's Mumbai entry [Source: AFP]In a significant development, Mumbai Indians have strongly objected to RCB's desire of having the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as their home ground for the IPL 2026. The 2025 IPL champions might not get a chance to play at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, their usual home base, as the venue has yet to receive security clearance to host IPL matches following an infamous stampede last year. In such a scenario, the Royal Challengers are actively seeking an alternative home ground, with Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai among their top priorities. Mumbai Indians emerge as major roadblock for RCB in IPL home questHowever, Mumbai Indians have emerged as a roadblock to RCB's quest. As reported by the Times of India, MI have urged RCB to explore other venues instead of finalising the DY Patil Stadium as their default base amid the uncertainties over M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Mumbai Indians firmly believe that RCB's entry in the city will contradict the basic philosophy of home venues, considering the Wankhede Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium are only few kilometres apart.In fact, MI have also presented a counter argument, citing how this move by RCB could set a wrong precedent, prompting the other IPL teams to select one of the Mumbai venues as their home base in future. Therefore, the five-time champions have insisted that the Royal Challengers exhaust their remaining options, especially Rajkot, Pune, Raipur, Vizag and Indore, before switching to Navi Mumbai. "If a franchise wants to establish a home base not far from the home of another franchise, it needs clearance to go ahead. It is the same catchment area. Wankhede and DY Patil are not far apart. If a franchise wants to set up a base at DY Patil, it cannot happen without approval from the one operating out of Wankhede. Why only DY Patil and not any other stadium in the country? There are plenty. Ml is of the opinion that RCB must exhaust other options before coming to DY Patil. There are so many non-IPL centres in the country," a source was quoted as saying by TOI. Why are RCB searching for an alternative home base for IPL 2026?RCB's home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, witnessed a horrific stampede incident that killed at least eleven people. Despite the Karnataka police warning against a trophy parade, a larger crowd gathered near the iconic Indian venue to witness their favourite cricketers following RCB's historic IPL 2025 triumph. The government hadn't arranged proper safety measures, leading to a fatal stampede outside the stadium. The Karnataka police, as well as the government, earned massive backlash for the security lapse, jeopardising M. Chinnaswamy Stadium's IPL hosting rights. Although the venue was tipped to host Delhi's Vijay Hazare Trophy match, which also saw Virat Kohli's comeback, the game was eventually shifted to the BCCI Centre of Excellence ground, amid concerns about potential crowd mismanagement at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the IPL 2026 is barely one month away, RCB have shortlisted several venues, including the DY Patil Stadium, as their potential home bases for the upcoming season.
