Chinnaswamy Stadium five IPL matchups’ venue

Article posted by Coliseum, March 16^th, 2026

Image: Royal Challeners Bengaluru on Facebook

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru, Karnataka, India) has been confirmed as the home venue for five Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

‘ESPN cricinfo’ stated that the development follows an extensive discussion between the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the RCB officials recently. It is understood that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been apprised of the matter with the IPL schedule announcement imminent. It’s likely the Chinnaswamy Stadium will now host the season opener on March 28^th as well as a Playoff game and the Final.

The 40,000-capacity M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, also known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Bengaluru City of the Indian State of Karnataka. The ground is owned by the Government of Karnataka and operated by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is the governing body of cricket in the Indian State of Karnataka. The Association is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and governs the Karnataka cricket team. The Association was founded in 1933 and has been affiliated to the BCCI ever since.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also known as the RCB, formerly the Royal Challengers Bangalore, are a professional Twenty20 cricket team based in Bengaluru, Karnataka (India) that competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team’s home ground is the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league (a shortened format of cricket) in India organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Founded in 2007, it features 10 City-based franchise teams. The IPL is the most popular and richest cricket league in the world and the 13^th richest sporting league in the world by revenue. It is held annually between March and May.

The 2026 Indian Premier League (also known as the IPL 19 and branded as TATA IPL 2026) will be the 19^th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The tournament will feature 10 teams competing in 84 matches from March 28^th-May 31^st, 2026. It will be held across India with Bengaluru hosting the Opening Ceremony and the Final as the defending champions.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in the 39,000-capacity Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The BCCI is the wealthiest governing body of cricket in the world. It has a revenue of more than ₹9,700 crore (US$1.1 billion).

‘ESPN cricinfo’ further stated that the franchise has also confirmed that two home matches will be played at the 65,000-capacity Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur (capital of the State of Chhattisgarh in India) “as per prior commitments”.

In January, the RCB head honcho Rajesh Menon had met the officials from the Chhattisgarh Government over the possibility of playing a few of their home matches. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai is believed to have offered his full support including extending certain tax exemptions while signing the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU).

A statement issued by the franchise quoted Menon as saying that the franchise had “completed necessary due processes around permissions”. While the KSCA, under its new President Venkatesh Prasad, have been steadfast in their belief over the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s preparedness the RCB had sought clarity from the State Government and the police on a number of issues.

Of top concern was the safety issues that placed the onus on the organizers for any untoward incident at and around the venue. At the time the RCB had sought clarity. They contended that the term “organizers” was vague since there are three parties involved – the RCB, the KSCA and the State police, or the Government agencies. The RCB are believed to have been given clarity on their concerns at a recent meeting held before a formal communication was sent to the KSCA.

The KSCA is currently amid its final stretch of preparations to fulfill the “short-term commitments” the Government had issued towards them as part of a 17-point infrastructure overhaul that was necessary after a prolonged battle in the wake of 11 deaths during last June’s IPL victory celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

As things stand, the KSCA has until March 15^th to complete all pending work including widening of the gates to smoothen the entry and the exit points – identified as a major shortcoming by the John Justice D’Cunha Report following an audit of the stadium late last year. The KSCA is also working towards ensuring smooth entry and exit points for the ambulances and ensuring the old National Cricket Academy (NCA) premises, with its vast area, is used as an assembly area for the large crowd gathering before the crowds disperse towards their respective stands.

There has been no directive issued for reduced crowd capacity which was understood to be one of the major concerns for the RCB.

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