After the tragic stampede incident in June 2025 during RCB’s title celebrations, which led to several deaths and injuries, the stadiums were temporarily banned from hosting matches. While the Karnataka government has now granted conditional approval for hosting IPL and international matches, RCB wants the outstanding gray areas to be addressed before confirming the venue for IPL 2026.
The IPL starts on March 26 with RCB playing the opening match as defending champions. However, the BCCI is yet to announce the full schedule, pending clarity from the franchise at its home ground. RCB has stated that playing at Chinnaswamy, in front of their passionate fan base, remains their first preference. However, the franchise is seeking clear guidance on a provision that places responsibility for any incident in and around the venue on the organisers. Since there are multiple stakeholders involved, KSCA, BCCI and the state government, the franchise wants clarity on how the responsibility will be shared.
RCB accepted the government’s conditional nod and commended KSCA’s continued infrastructure work
In a statement, RCB accepted the government’s conditional nod and commended KSCA’s ongoing infrastructure work, but asserted that a responsible decision would be taken only after further consultations. The franchise has also proposed to install 300 to 350 AI-enabled cameras for crowd management, for which a one-time investment of INR 4.5 crore has been made.
Meanwhile, KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad stated that the association has been working intensively for the past 45 days and has committed to complete all mandatory safety upgrades by the end of February. These include widening entry and exit gates, creating internal waiting areas, improving access for ambulances and fire engines, improving fire safety infrastructure and building ramps for easier movement, especially for children, women and people with disabilities.
The association has also planned a fully digital ticketing system, designated the entrance to the National Cricket Academy as the main concourse, and confirmed that Queen’s Road will become a traffic-free zone on match days to prevent dangerous build-ups of crowds.
Despite the optimism, Prasad has put the onus on RCB to start a conversation with the government, stating that communication so far has been largely one-sided. Meanwhile, RCB has been exploring backup options, including hosting matches in Navi Mumbai and Raipur, and discussions have already been held with the Chhattisgarh government.
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