IPL 2026 games at Chinnaswamy Stadium still await clearance

The fate of IPL 2026 matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains uncertain despite the Karnataka government’s in-principle approval. What should have been a routine confirmation has turned into a complex back-and-forth between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and the state authorities. With the IPL season slated to begin on March 26, clarity is still awaited.

The uncertainty comes from the tragic events of June 4, 2025, when celebrations following RCB’s maiden IPL title win ended in a stampede outside the stadium, leaving 11 people dead and more than 50 injured. In the aftermath, cricket matches at the venue were suspended. The Karnataka government constituted an inquiry committee headed by Justice John Michael Cunha, which made several safety recommendations. Subsequently, another panel, led by Greater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, was tasked with assessing compliance.

While Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil recently announced that the Cabinet had decided to allow IPL matches at the venue, the approval comes with conditions. The Home Department has been asked to issue special orders detailing compliance requirements for the KSCA and RCB. Among the major conditions is the widening of stadium gates and access points to improve crowd management and public safety.

The KSCA has confirmed that extensive infrastructure and safety enhancement works are underway. Several spectator gates and access points are being dismantled and widened in line with expert recommendations. According to officials, the work is progressing as per schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. However, the franchise appears to be seeking unconditional clearance rather than a conditional approval, given the sensitivities surrounding last year’s tragedy.

Meanwhile, RCB has reportedly conducted a recce in Raipur and is exploring the possibility of shifting matches to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. The delay in confirming Bengaluru as a venue has also contributed to the broader postponement of the IPL 2026 schedule announcement. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is awaiting the dates of the Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala before finalising fixtures. Traditionally, the IPL calendar is aligned with election schedules to ensure adequate security deployment.

A similar situation has unfolded in Jaipur, where the Rajasthan Royals have sought formal indemnity from the state government before hosting games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. In a note to the BCCI and the government, the franchise requested protection from liability arising from structural, life-safety, electrical, or public safety failures beyond their operational control. Reports suggest RR may play four of their seven home games in Jaipur following government intervention.

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