In a dramatic development ahead of IPL 2026, reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were stopped from shifting base to DY Patil Stadium,
Navi Mumbai, after Mumbai Indians (MI) refused to grant the required No Objection Certificate (NOC).
But, it has been a boon for the RCB, who are set to play at their traditional home at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
What Happened?
RCB had identified DY Patil as a temporary home venue due to ongoing safety inspections and renovation work at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, following the tragic June 2025 stampede that led to 11 fatalities. With clearance still pending from authorities and recommendations of the Justice D'Cunha Committee being implemented, RCB began exploring alternate venues for IPL 2026.
According to MI's perspective, as explained to Times of India, "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. "
A Setback or a Blessing in Disguise for RCB?
MI's decision was a setback for RCB as it underscored how critical territorial rights and venue governance are in the IPL ecosystem.
But RCB have found a surprising revival as they are set to play in the M Chinnaswami Stadium in Bengaluru after the Karnataka government gave them the green signal on Friday.
The Karnataka state cabinet approved the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) request on February 12, 2026, granting conditional clearance for the iconic venue to host IPL games amid prior security concerns. This ends uncertainty, as RCB had explored alternatives like Raipur or Navi Mumbai.
It is unclear if they will play all of their matches in front of their home crowd at the Garden City, as a prior understanding with the Chhattisgarh Cricket Association was done for a few matches in Raipur.
