The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been approved to host Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket matches again, according to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
“We are
pleased to announce that the Home department, Government of Karnataka, has granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host international and IPL matches at the iconic venue. The permission is subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authorities,” said Vinay Mruthyunjaya, KSCA’s official spokesperson, in a statement.
Why No Cricket?
This formal approval ends months of uncertainty since the stadium was removed from the cricketing calendar following a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title-winning celebrations on June 4, which resulted in eleven deaths and 56 injuries.
In the aftermath, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) relocated several major events away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium, including the Duleep Trophy, the India–South Africa men’s A series, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, including the final.
The return of matches to the ground was contingent on implementing recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, formed as part of the investigation into the tragedy.
“KSCA is confident of fulfilling all the stipulated conditions. The Association has already presented a detailed compliance roadmap before the Expert Review Committee and remains fully committed to implementing all safety, security, and crowd-management measures in letter and spirit,” added Mruthyunjaya.
Also Read: RCB’s Rs 4.5 Crore Plan: Install 350 AI Cameras At Chinnaswamy For Crowd Control
The KSCA also faced administrative upheaval, operating without a treasurer and secretary for months after both resigned, citing moral responsibility for the tragedy. Last year, the Venkatesh Prasad-led panel took charge and prioritised bringing matches back to the iconic cricketing venue.
With the state government’s clearance secured, it will be interesting to see if RCB will play all of its IPL 2026 home games at Chinnaswamy, considering that its vice-president Rajesh Menon met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai to discuss playing two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur.
(With inputs from Agencies)
