Karnataka Government Approves IPL 2026 Matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Karnataka Grants Approval for IPL Matches
On Monday, the Karnataka government officially sanctioned the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to host the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This decision concludes a period of uncertainty that followed the stampede incident after RCB's first title victory.
The 19th season of the premier T20 league is set to kick off on March 28, with the defending champions, RCB, facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the inaugural match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, according to the tournament schedule.
This formal approval was granted following a meeting led by Karnataka's Home Minister, Dr. G. Parameshwar, which included the Expert Committee formed by the state government, along with representatives from KSCA, RCB, and their event management partner, DNA.
During the meeting, the Expert Committee shared its findings regarding the preparedness and compliance measures implemented at the stadium, as stated by KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya.
Following the Expert Committee's recommendations and a thorough review of the arrangements, the Home Minister officially approved the hosting of the upcoming IPL matches at the renowned M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The KSCA expressed its heartfelt thanks to Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar for his leadership and support in securing this approval.
In addition to the season opener, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will also host the RCB Unboxing event and the tournament's opening ceremony.
RCB previously announced that they would play five of their seven home matches in Bengaluru, with the remaining two scheduled at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
The KSCA also conveyed its gratitude to the Expert Committee members, particularly to Shri Sreemant Kumar Singh, the Member Secretary and Commissioner of Police in Bengaluru, for his proactive coordination and thorough evaluation of safety and operational measures.
The KSCA further acknowledged the contributions of all distinguished members of the Expert Committee and its sub-committees, whose diligent assessments and constructive suggestions were crucial in reaching this significant decision.