Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals are exploring alternative home venues ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, with both franchises facing hurdles at their traditional bases of Bengaluru and Jaipur.
The Maharashtra Cricket Board on Sunday January 4 revealed that both the teams visited the MCA Stadium in the last week of December to see if they could host their home matches in Pune.
Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium was barred from hosting matches after the Karnataka government imposed a ban following a stampede incident last year. Rajasthan, on the other hand, lost the hosting rights at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur after the Rajasthan Cricket Association failed to conduct the election on time despite repeated warnings from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI).
In December 2025, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal hinted that Rajasthan might be forced to move home matches from Jaipur if the administrative situation was not resolved. With uncertainty still lingering, the Royals have begun contingency planning. The franchise already has a secondary base in Guwahati and is likely to keep the option open for the 2026 season.
“We thank Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals for visiting the MCA International Stadium, Gahunje, Pune a few weeks ago. Their visit underscores the stadium’s readiness to host world-class cricket. With the continued support of the BCCI Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are confident that the MCA International Stadium will soon be approved as an IPL venue that will bring star players, elite MCA matches, IPL,” the statement said.
“MCA looks forward to welcoming big matches and memorable cricketing moments soon,” he added.
Pune last hosted an IPL match on 14 May 2022 when Kolkata Knight Riders faced SunRisers Hyderabad. KKR won the contest by 54 runs, powered by Andre Russell’s all-round performance.
If Pune ends up hosting RCB or RR’s home matches in IPL 2026, it would be a major blow to fans in Bengaluru and Jaipur. Both cities, known for their ingrained cricketing culture, traditionally turn into IPL hubs for two months every year, missing out on the opportunity to watch their favorite stars live.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
January 4, 2026
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