The Karnataka cabinet has given its nod to resume Indian Premier League matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, months after cricket activities were suspended following a tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives last June during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations.
The decision comes after the submission of a report by Justice Cunha, which outlined a number of immediate, medium and long-term recommendations aimed at ensuring the safety of spectators at the venue. Ministers of State said approval was conditional and based on compliance with these guidelines.
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the development on Thursday. “Cabinet has agreed to certain conditions as per the Cunha report. In the report, it has mentioned a maximum of 35,000 people and other conditions. We have decided accordingly,” Reddy said, referring to the crowd capacity ceiling and other prescribed measures.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar chaired a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha with Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, KSCA secretary and senior government and police officials to discuss the organization of matches at the venue.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND LIABILITIES
Dr. Parameshwar detailed the Cabinet’s decision: “Tonight the Cabinet has taken a decision to allow KSCA and RCB to conduct IPL matches in Bengaluru.”
He added that although not all recommendations had been fully implemented, significant progress had been made. “There are three categories of recommendations. One is what we should do immediately. The other was the mid-term category, like gates, parking, health departments, ambulances and things like that. The long-term was infrastructure. They gave us a commitment to everything, on the timeline, and the government accepted these commitments and gave them permission in principle to conduct IPL matches.”
The Home Minister also said that a committee headed by the Chief Commissioner of the GBA along with the Police Commissioner and representatives of the Health, PWD and Fire Departments has been constituted. “All these people have confirmed that the matches can be carried out safely. So these are the steps we have taken,” he said.
THE GOVERNMENT EMPHASIZES RESPONSIBILITY
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stressed that compliance with security will not be negotiable. “In the interest of the youth and the cricketing world, the Karnataka government has permitted all future matches to be held in Bengaluru,” he said.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet has given approval to the KSCA to host IPL and international matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “In the interest of the youth and the cricketing world, the Karnataka government has given permission pic.twitter.com/tS5CBL72ee— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026
“He’s going to have to prevent that; they shouldn’t be selling more tickets than the exact availability of seats. They have to put in place everything that was recommended in the report, including providing ambulances, bigger gates and conditions. We’ve allowed it.”
Calling it “great news for all cricket lovers”, Shivakumar added: “Sorry for the pain. We missed a great match but we should be very aware next time.”
The high-level meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Girinath, State DGP MA Salim, GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Home Secretary KV Sarathchandra, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru officials.
After the meeting, Prasad called the outcome “extremely positive” and thanked the home minister for forming the committee. he was waiting for the cabinet’s decision.
With a strict capacity limit of 35,000 and multi-departmental supervision now in place, cricket will return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium under heightened scrutiny and enhanced security protocols.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 13, 2026