NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL title in 2025 brought joy to millions of fans, marking the end of a 17-year drought. Supporters will be eager to see their team begin the 2026 season as defending champions at their home ground — the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
According to a report by The Times of India, RCB might not play any home matches in Bengaluru, as the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been deemed unfit to host major events following the tragic stampede during the team’s victory parade in June. The incident claimed several lives and led to a detailed safety review of the venue.
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Pune Offered as Alternative Venue
Discussions are currently underway for RCB to host their home games at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal confirmed that talks have taken place between the franchise and local officials.
“This arrangement is under discussion but not yet final. After the stampede, there are issues in Karnataka. We have offered our stadium, and there are a few technical matters to be addressed. If all goes well, Pune could host RCB’s matches,” Pisal told.
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A Familiar Shift for IPL Fans
If finalised, this move would see RCB follow in the footsteps of Chennai Super Kings, who were also forced to shift their home games to Pune in 2018 due to political unrest in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, CSK went on to lift the IPL trophy that same year — a story RCB fans would certainly hope to recreate in 2026.
