RCB unlikely to return to Chinnaswamy Stadium, Raipur frontrunner as new home
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are unlikely to return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the IPL 2026 season, with Raipur emerging as the frontrunner to become the franchise’s new home venue. The decision follows the tragic stampede at RCB’s 2025 trophy celebration in Bengaluru that killed 11 people and left several others injured, leaving the team unwilling to stage home matches in the Karnataka capital.
RCB yet to approach KSCA for IPL 2026
According to sources, RCB are unwilling to stage their home matches in Bengaluru for the upcoming season. The reason for this major decision is directly related to the negative publicity the champion team had to endure after the trophy celebration in the Karnataka capital ended in tragedy.
So far, RCB has not approached the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to express interest in hosting its IPL matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, according to sources. Bengaluru has been the home venue of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008, making this potential shift historic for the franchise.
Raipur frontrunner, Indore also in contention
Chhattisgarh’s Raipur looks to be the frontrunner to become RCB’s new ‘home,’ while Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is also in the race. The IPL is likely to start on March 21, 2026, leaving the Venkatesh Prasad-led KSCA in a race against time to potentially salvage the situation.
The move would mark a significant departure for one of the IPL’s most popular franchises, which has built a massive fan base in Bengaluru over nearly two decades. The decision could have major implications for local fans and the city’s cricketing ecosystem.
Kohli’s Vijay Hazare match also shifted
Notably, Virat Kohli’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh on December 24, 2025, was shifted from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at the last moment—a move that now appears to have been an early indicator of the growing rift between RCB and the venue.
The former India captain’s connection to Bengaluru runs deep, having led RCB for multiple seasons and becoming synonymous with the franchise. His potential absence from playing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium would be a significant blow to local fans.
Rajasthan Royals also relocating to Pune
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune will host Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) home games in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), sources said.
RR’s decision to move their home matches away from their primary venue, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, stems from ongoing disagreements with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Tensions escalated in IPL 2025 when an RCA official leveled match-fixing allegations against the franchise—allegations they categorically denied while calling for strict action against the individual concerned.
Pune’s IPL hosting experience
The MCA Stadium in Pune has hosted men’s international games in all formats, including the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup and the Women’s T20 Challenge.
In the IPL, it has been the home ground for Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings at various times during the 2010s, making it a familiar venue for franchise cricket.