Royal Challengers Bengaluru are heading back to their stronghold, with the team set to assemble at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 15 ahead of IPL 2026. With security upgrades nearing completion, Bengaluru is gearing up for a sensational season with big matches slated for next season.
Confirmation is coming as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) continues to complete the final phase of security enhancement work at the iconic venue in Bengaluru, months after cricket activities were temporarily halted following the tragic stampede during RCB’s first IPL title celebrations in 2025.
KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad expressed confidence that the remaining work would be completed before the franchise begins preparations at the stadium.
“Yes, there is still some bit of work left and as far as we are concerned, it will be delivered within the deadlines we have given to the expert committee headed by Mr. Maheshwar Rao,” Prasad said.
“We have accommodated them as much as possible. They have repeated meetings here. They even came yesterday morning to review the works. RCB is likely to meet here on March 15 and the ticket Unbox event will be held here a week before the opening match of IPL,” he added.
RCB had earlier confirmed that they would play five league matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, including the opening game of IPL 2026, ending months of uncertainty over whether the venue would be cleared in time.
The Bengaluru-based franchise will also use the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur as their second home venue to play two league matches.
Apart from this, the IPL playoffs and finals will also be held in Bengaluru.
WHAT DOES KSCA DO TO ENSURE SAFETY?
Following the recommendations of the Justice Cunha report after last year’s tragic stampede, the Karnataka State Cricket Association has implemented several crowd management and security measures to ensure smoother operations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during IPL 2026. KSCA secretary Santosh Menon said the association has already briefed the expert panel on the progress of these crowd flow safety improvements, which are aimed at improving the match crowd.
Key measures taken include:
- Maximum capacity of 35,000 spectators for better control of crowd movement in the stadium.
- The stadium gates open 3-4 hours before the match to avoid last minute congestion outside the entry points.
- Separate entry queues for women and children to simplify access and reduce overcrowding.
- Free metro rides for ticket holders in collaboration with Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to facilitate transportation around the stadium.
- Improved match day coordination with multiple departments to ensure smoother security and emergency response.
HOW DID CHINNASWAMY GET CLEARANCE FOR IPL 2026?
The return of IPL matches to the Chinnaswamy Stadium was approved by the Karnataka Cabinet after reviewing the Justice Cunha report and the progress of security enhancement work at the venue.
Cricket activities were suspended earlier following a stampede incident that claimed 11 lives during RCB’s 2025 IPL victory celebrations.
The venue had too missed out on hosting the Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year, the match was shifted to Hubballi as the stadium was undergoing security upgrades.
With the improvements now nearing completion and under the supervision of several departments, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been cleared to host IPL matches again.
The stadium will not only host five league matches for RCB but will also host the IPL 2026 opening ceremony and curtain raiser.
With the business end of the tournament, including the play-offs and the final also scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, the Chinnaswamy Stadium will once again become the hub of IPL action.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 March 2026 09:15 IST
