RCB Not To Play At Chinnaswamy In IPL 2026; Franchise Puts Huge Demand Before KSCA

Chinnaswamy Stadium and Virat Kohli [Source: X]

The journey to the IPL 2026 at the legendary M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for RCB fans is still rocky and uncertain, despite the Karnataka state government giving the go-ahead to hold matches at the historic stadium.

Even with the nod from the government, a rather complicated three-way struggle between Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and the state government has left the situation far from being resolved, with time ticking away.

The Tragic Trouble At Chinnaswamy

The Chinnaswamy Stadium has not had fans since June 2025, after a tragic victory parade stampede incident on June 4 that sent shockwaves throughout the Indian cricketing world, leading to a comprehensive review of the safety infrastructure at the stadium.

Since then, the stadium has been under intense scrutiny, with an Expert Committee formed to review structural and safety issues at the stadium. The results have led to a complete makeover that is currently underway, leaving the IPL readiness of the stadium very much in the balance.

The RCB, KSCA and Government Fiasco Still On

At the root of the confusion is a definite lack of coordination between the three major players. When asked to clarify the situation, a high-ranking KSCA representative dodged the question with a glaring answer.

"You have to speak to RCB. The KSCA has got the government permission to host the IPL matches. However, all the works to be undertaken and completed are under progress and will be completed as per schedule," the official told CricBuzz.

The fact that the statement has been made speaks volumes about the lack of connectivity that is being experienced between the association and the franchise at the moment.

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The KSCA has stated that their side of the bargain is being met. The association also confirmed that it has obtained the required government approval to stage IPL matches.

While announcing Hubballi as the alternative venue for the Ranji Trophy, the KSCA had noted, "At present, extensive infrastructure and safety enhancement works are underway at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in line with the recommendations of the Expert Committee and other statutory authorities. Several spectator gates and access points are currently being dismantled and widened, along with other critical improvement works."

The expected completion date of the ongoing process is the end of February, according to the association. However, the stance of the franchise is more conservative and much tougher than just the completion of the construction process.

RCB Demands Unconditional Clearance, Nothing Less

This is where the actual problem begins. It is known that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are not ready to accept a conditional clearance for holding matches at Chinnaswamy.

It is not to be forgotten that after the tragic incidents of June 4, 2025, the franchise is quite naturally demanding an unconditional and complete clearance before agreeing to hold the matches at the venue, and this is yet to be received.

The conservatism of the RCB is not just a matter of bureaucratic formalities. The stampede that took place at the end of the victory celebration event at the stadium on June 2025, resulting in multiple deaths, left a dark blot on the safety record of the stadium.

As a fall-back option, RCB have already made a trip to Raipur and are seriously considering the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in the capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur’s rival venue, as an alternative option if Chinnaswamy does not receive the necessary unconditional clearance on time.

BCCI Schedule Delay and the Larger IPL 2026 Logjam

The Chinnaswamy uncertainty is not a standalone issue but is also part of a larger scheduling logjam that the BCCI is facing in the run-up to the IPL 2026. The BCCI has not yet released the official schedule for the tournament, which has been delayed mainly due to the need to accommodate the dates of state Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

The BCCI usually draws up the IPL schedule in accordance with the Election Commission’s schedule to avoid conflicts of logistics and security, however, the Chinnaswamy uncertainty has further complicated this already tricky scheduling exercise.

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