Further developments regarding the staging of IPL 2026 fixtures at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are expected on March 16 evening, according to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The update follows a meeting held on Friday (March 13) between an Expert Committee of the Karnataka Government, KSCA officials, and representatives from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
KSCA stated that the discussions were constructive and centred on preparations for the tournament’s return to the Bengaluru venue.
“During the meeting, KSCA made a detailed presentation on the infrastructural arrangements and safety measures undertaken at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in line with the recommendations of the Expert Committee that are to be implemented under Phase-I of the compliance framework,” a KSCA statement read.
“Representatives of RCB and their associated operational agencies also presented their preparedness and operational plans for the smooth and orderly conduct of the upcoming IPL matches,” it added.
Venue return under compliance framework
No matches have been held at the stadium since the tragic incident on June 4 last year, when a trophy celebration resulted in a stampede that claimed 11 lives, prompting security concerns around hosting major events at the venue.
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Earlier this year, KSCA received conditional approval from the state government in January to resume hosting IPL and international fixtures, subject to meeting specific guidelines set by authorities. A formal clearance followed in February, paving the way for RCB to potentially return to the ground that has served as their home venue since the IPL began in 2008 whenever the competition has been staged in India.
The KSCA statement further noted that all stakeholders reiterated their commitment to ensuring matches are conducted in a safe, regulated, and seamless manner. If plans proceed as expected, RCB are scheduled to play five of their seven home fixtures at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, while the remaining two matches will be staged in Raipur.
