Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans have received an encouraging update ahead of the India vs England semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The team has informed that they will play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Next season, RCB will compete as the defending champions. Following last year’s tragic incident, the team has faced some hurdles in arranging Indian Premier League matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of the tournament. The Karnataka cricket governing body is actively approaching the state government to allow the team to organize IPL 2026 matches at home.

RCB releases official statement ahead of IPL 2026 season

A few days ago, it was reported that the government had given approval to hold the competition locally. The license also comes with some guidelines. With RCB’s future at the venue still uncertain, fans are eagerly awaiting an official statement from the team.

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On March 3, it was reported that RCB will play 5 games of the upcoming IPL season at theM. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Several of their matches are expected to be played in Raipur.

RCB will play 5 games at Chinnaswamy and 2 games at Raipur

— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) March 3, 2026

Who we are as a team truly shines through – Rajesh Menon

Royal Challengers Bangalore CEO Rajesh Menon said: “The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is not just our home ground, it is where who we are as a team truly shines through. The energy our fans bring to Bangalore has been a driving force for our players, motivating them through every phase of the game. Our fans support us unconditionally and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team play at home.”

“After detailed discussions and completion of necessary due process regarding clearance, we are happy to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Karnataka government, KSCA and Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” he further added.

It was previously understood that the 2025 IPL champions are actively looking for a suitable venue for the upcoming season. This was reported before the state government approved it. After the Karnataka government issued the permission, red and black party supporters have been waiting for official confirmation.

Breathing a sigh of relief as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kings XI Punjab to win their maiden IPL title

Last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore narrowly defeated Kings XI Punjab (PBKS) to lift the trophy for the first time in the league’s history. Virat Kohli is considered a key figure in a magical night for the entire community. Nonetheless, Krunal Pandya’s bowling efforts cannot be denied.

The PBKS batsmen were all-out chasing the target of 191 runs. Middle-order batsman Shashank Singh led the team very close to glory but missed out on the title by just 6 runs. Facing RCB’s 190, PBKS scored 184 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli scored 43 off 35 with the bat and Krunal Pandya with the ball took 2 wickets in 4 overs with an economy rate of 4.25.

Read more: Gautam Gambhir unites India team around Linku Singh after personal tragedy