Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, widely regarded as the best stadium of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and home to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the inception of the IPL, is reportedly going to miss out on hosting the team’s home matches in the IPL 2026 season.
In this light, it has been reported that RCB will accommodate their home matches at Pune’s MCA International Stadium, due to the suspension of Chinnaswamy after the unfortunate stampede incident that occurred earlier this year.
The incident took place on June 4 when the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) held a victory celebration parade in the city to commemorate their first-ever IPL title win. What started as a joyful occasion turned into a tragedy when a stampede broke out, killing 11 people and injuring others.
The stadium was put under investigation after the incident and was afterwards banned from hosting major events, even being excluded from the venues for the recently held Women’s World Cup.
The BCCI and RCB management are now looking for alternate venues due to the still ongoing inquiry and the cancellation of hosting rights, with Pune being the most likely option. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has extended an official invitation to its Gahunje Stadium to host the matches of RCB in next season.
Rohit Pisal, the secretary of the MCA stated, “In Karnataka, they have a problem because of the stampede that occurred. Thus, they are searching for a venue and we have extended the offer of our stadium to them. The conversations are in the early stages and a couple of technical aspects need to be worked out. Should everything go well, then it is indeed possible Pune will host the matches.”
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The MCA International Stadium in Pune was the last venue to host IPL matches in 2022, and it is also equipped with world-class facilities. Thus, the franchise would find it an ideal temporary base.
But this change will be very emotional for the team as well as for the fans. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has always been a favorite place known for its electrifying atmosphere, a sea of red jerseys, and passionate chants for Virat Kohli and the team. The stadium during RCB’s home matches would be fully packed; the fans’ energy would transform the stadium into a fortress.
If RCB does move to Pune, it will be a new chapter opened but Bengaluru will always be RCB’s true home. The players and fans will not have access to the Chinnaswamy magic that has been part of almost every unforgettable RCB moment during the years.
Currently, the BCCI and RCB management are yet to make an official confirmation. But at the moment, RCB’s title defence in IPL 2026 is likely to start with an away fixture, a painful reminder of the tragedy that shook the team’s most loyal supporters.
Written By:- Manjunath S