Rajasthan Royals End Standoff With Govt, 4 IPL 2026 Games Confirmed in Jaipur

Rajasthan Royals [Source: @DSCricinfo789/x.com]

After weeks of behind-the-scenes talks and a fair bit of tug-of-war, Rajasthan Royals and the Rajasthan government have finally shaken hands and buried the hatchet. Jaipur is back in the IPL with four home games confirmed for the 2026 season while three matches will be played in Guwahati.

The long-running venue uncertainty had fans scratching their heads and biting their nails. But the latest development has brought clarity and calm.

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Rajasthan Royals settle venue tussle; Jaipur back on IPL 2026 map

Royals’ chairperson Ranjit Barthakur met Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to iron out the last few creases. After that meeting, both sides shook hands and buried the hatchet. Jaipur has now got its IPL buzz back and the Royals get the home comforts they wanted.

According to sources close to the developments, Rajasthan Royals will host four home games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The remaining three will be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

It is a small shuffle from previous seasons. Earlier, Jaipur hosted five matches while Guwahati got two. This time, one extra game heads to Assam. Jaipur still remains the main fortress, but Guwahati continues to grow as the franchise’s second home.

From a fan perspective, it’s a win-win. Jaipur supporters get plenty of action. Guwahati fans, who have turned up in huge numbers over the last few seasons, continue to enjoy their share of Royals cricket.

Weeks of confusion finally over

The venue saga had been dragging on for weeks and had fans biting their nails. Safety concerns, liability issues and administrative approvals created a proper logjam. At one point, there were genuine doubts about whether Jaipur would host any matches at all.

A source confirmed that the breakthrough came after the Royals chairperson met the Chief Minister and reached a mutual understanding. Once both sides were on the same page, the road cleared quickly.

For the Royals management, the stance was simple. Player safety and fan experience come first. No shortcuts, no compromises. They wanted solid assurances on infrastructure and safety before locking in Jaipur as a venue. They stuck to their guns until those boxes were ticked.

Audit report lit the fuse

The whole standoff began after an independent audit by Tata Projects. The massive 700-page report flagged several concerns about infrastructure and safety at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

That report raised eyebrows and triggered caution within the Royals camp. The franchise even sought an indemnity waiver from the state government before confirming fixtures. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan State Sports Council believed most issues were routine and could be handled with basic maintenance.

But the Royals preferred to play safe rather than sorry. As a result, the discussions dragged on and uncertainty hovered over Jaipur like dark clouds before a storm.

Chief Minister steps in to break deadlock

The turning point came when Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma stepped in. His intervention helped smooth things over and speed up the process. Assurances were given that the required upgrades and repairs would be completed in time and that the venue would meet IPL standards.

Once those assurances were in place, the final handshake wasn’t far away. The hatchet was buried and Jaipur was back in business.

Repair work begins at SMS Stadium

With the agreement sealed, repair and upgrade work at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is already underway. The Rajasthan State Sports Council has started the process to ensure everything is up to the mark before the tournament begins.

For Rajasthan Royals, this resolution comes as a massive relief. The franchise can now shift focus back to cricket instead of off-field headaches.

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