It is yet to be decided whether Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the IPL 2026 season. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the government has no plans to stop cricket matches in stadiums but a final decision will be taken after Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

RCB clinched their first IPL title in 2025 but the celebrations turned tragic when a huge crowd outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium triggered a fatal stampede. 11 people were killed and many were injured.

The incident raised serious security concerns and sparked speculation over whether RCB will be allowed to play their 2026 home matches at the venue. It is worth noting that the stadium has also lost the right to host some matches of the 2025 Women’s World Cup.

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No intention to stop cricket match at Chinnaswamy Stadium – DK Shivakumar

DK Shivakumar met newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad to discuss the future of matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. After the meeting, Shivakumar said the government has no plans to stop cricket at venues.

The politician added that the recommendations made by the Michael D. Cunha Commission will be implemented gradually and Prasad has agreed to support the process.

“We have no intention of stopping cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium but we have to look at crowd control measures,” he told reporters after the meeting.

“We must also adopt the recommendations of the Michael D. Cunha committee in a phased manner. Venkatesh Prasad also agreed,” he added.

No matches (including RCB) allowed to move out of Bangalore – DK Shivakumar

Shivakumar said the government is fully supportive of cricket in the state, adding that they want to support the sport and its fans without tarnishing the reputation of Bengaluru. He assured that no matches, including the IPL, will be moved out of the city and the government will work closely with the association.

“The newly elected KSCA president and his team met us today to seek cooperation from the government. We will not allow any matches, including IPL matches, to be shifted from Bengaluru. We have to work together in this regard,” he said.

“Our government has also proposed to build a new stadium. I wish Venkatesh Prasad and his team with the support of Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble all the best,” he added.

Chinnaswamy Stadium’s future depends on major security upgrades

The future of hosting matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium depends on meeting strict safety standards after serious concerns were raised about its structure and location.

A judicial commission led by retired judge John Michael D’Cunha, set up after the tragic stampede, concluded that the stadium’s design and its crowded conditions were unsafe for large crowds.

The report recommends that large events should not return to venues until improvements are made, and warns that hosting large events without these upgrades would pose unacceptable risks to public safety, traffic flow and emergency response.

“Until such infrastructure changes are made, continuing to hold high-attendance events at their current locations will pose an unacceptable risk to public safety, city transportation, and emergency preparedness,” the committee wrote.

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