M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Source:@MAHI83926,x.com)
In a significant development, cricket could soon return to Bengaluru’s iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is close to receiving formal approval, provided it fully complies with strict safety, security, and crowd-management norms laid down by the authorities.
The development follows a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday at the KSCA offices, led by Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.
The meeting was attended by Central Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshay, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, and senior officials from the police, public works department, and the cricket association.
Officials reviewed ongoing infrastructure upgrades at the stadium and assessed whether the venue meets the new safety standards introduced after last year’s tragic incident.
KSCA holds talks with state leaders for Cricket's return to Chinnaswamy Stadium
Over the past few weeks, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad has held several meetings with top state leaders, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Home Minister, and senior police officials.
During these discussions, the association pressed for permission to resume cricket at the venue while assuring the government that all safety-related protocols would be implemented within a fixed timeframe.
New developments made at M Chinnaswamy Stadium
As part of the corrective measures, significant changes are being made to the stadium’s layout. Entry and exit gates are being widened to allow smoother movement of spectators and to ensure clear access for emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire tenders.
Internal pathways within the stadium complex are also being redesigned to reduce congestion during peak hours.
Fire safety has emerged as a key focus area. Officials confirmed that the stadium's fire systems are being upgraded and that mandatory approvals from the fire and emergency services department are being pursued simultaneously.
These clearances are expected to play a decisive role in determining whether matches can be hosted in the near future.
Will M Chinnaswamy Stadium host matches for RCB in IPL 2026?
In a recent development, senior police officials have indicated that once all the conditions are met and verified on the ground, the KSCA is likely to receive conditional clearance.
Any approval, however, will come with strict guidelines. These are expected to include enhanced police deployment, regulated entry timings, tighter monitoring of crowd density, and close coordination between event organisers and law enforcement agencies.
The cautious approach comes in the backdrop of the tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in June 2025.
Celebrations following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title win turned deadly, with 11 people losing their lives and several others injured.
A judicial inquiry led by Justice Michael D Cunha later highlighted serious shortcomings, including flawed stadium access design, inadequate emergency planning, and unsafe crowd movement patterns.
Later, several reports indicated that senior police officers had warned the government about the risks of holding a felicitation event at the stadium following RCB's IPL victory.
While the return of matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium now appears closer, authorities have made it clear that public safety will remain the top priority, and cricket will return only if all safety norms are fully met.
