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The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) schedule is already out, and one of the biggest speculations surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is whether they will be playing at their home matches at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

As per the announced schedule, RCB will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur.

Also READ: IPL 2026 schedule announced, RCB to take on SRH at in season opener on March 28

Home matches subject to clearance

However, the Bengaluru fixtures are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The committee is set to conduct a meeting and inspect the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026.

During this inspection, a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements will be carried out to assess the stadium’s preparedness for hosting IPL matches.

Only after this scrutiny will the committee decide whether all scheduled matches can safely proceed in Bengaluru. This step has been taken to ensure that all safety protocols are strictly followed, especially considering past incidents.

Chinnaswamy under close scrutiny

The stadium has been under intense scrutiny since last year when a tragic stampede occurred during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. Following their win, a special victory parade and celebration had been scheduled on June 5, 2025, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Unfortunately, a large gathering of fans led to a stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities.

Since then, the Karnataka government has imposed strict safety measures for large gatherings, including sporting events. The upcoming inspections and mock demonstrations are part of these enhanced safety protocols.

RCB’s IPL 2026 Fixtures

As per the schedule, RCB will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28. Other key fixtures include:

March 28 (Sat) – RCB vs SRH – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

April 5 (Sun) – RCB vs CSK – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

April 10 (Fri) – RR vs RCB – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

April 12 (Sun) – MI vs RCB – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

The outcome of the expert committee’s inspection will determine whether RCB can host their other home games in Chinnaswamy or if alternative venues will be needed.