The Karnataka government has approved hosting of the upcoming IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after an expert panel presented a detailed report on security and preparedness measures at a meeting chaired by Home Minister G. Parameshwara at the Vidhana Soudha on Monday.
The venue will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) home matches, with the franchise planning to play five league matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue, known for its high-energy atmosphere and high-scoring encounters, is expected to once again turn into a stronghold for RCB as they look to launch their title defense in front of their home fans.
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Apart from the buzz, the venue will also host the curtain raiser of the upcoming season along with the opening ceremony.
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, one IPL play-off match and the final are also scheduled to be held in Bengaluru.
CROWD CONTROL MEASURES IN PLACE
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
Cricket activities were suspended earlier following a stampede incident that claimed 11 lives during RCB’s 2025 IPL victory celebrations.
The venue also missed out on hosting the Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year when the match was shifted to Hubballi as the stadium underwent security upgrades.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
March 16, 2026 1:44 PM IST
