NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore are likely to have new home venues for the upcoming Indian Premier League season, with the franchise expected to move away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the wake of last year’s tragic incident.

The decision follows the stampede that took place outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium after RCB’s historic title triumph last season. What was meant to be a celebration quickly turned into a tragedy, forcing the franchise and authorities to rethink the feasibility of hosting matches at the venue in the near future.

According to a report by TOI, Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium and Raipur’s Shahid Veer Narayan Singh Stadium have been finalised as RCB’s home grounds for the season. DY Patil Stadium is set to host five matches, while two games are expected to be played in Raipur.

Earlier, there were speculations that Pune could emerge as a possible home base for the Bengaluru outfit. However, those talks did not materialise, and RCB eventually settled on Navi Mumbai and Raipur after discussions.

RCB had enjoyed a standout campaign in the previous IPL season, where they not only finished on top of the points table but also went on to clinch their first-ever title after an 18-year wait.

They edged past Punjab Kings by just 6 runs in a tense final, finally ending years of heartbreak for players and fans alike.