Once the home of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL matches, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru may no longer host the team, following last year’s tragic stampede. After RCB’s IPL 2025 final victory, a poorly planned trophy celebration at the stadium led to a stampede that killed 11 people and injured several others. According to NDTV, RCB is expected to avoid holding their home matches in Bengaluru for IPL 2026.
Reports indicate that RCB has not held any discussions with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) regarding the 2026 season. Raipur is currently the leading contender to host RCB’s home matches, with Indore also under consideration. Even Virat Kohli’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Andhra Pradesh in December was shifted from the stadium at the last moment.
The memory of the stampede remains a sensitive issue for RCB and players like Kohli. Reports suggest that during the trophy celebration, RCB’s social media team was alerted to the stampede via Instagram Live comments but continued the broadcast. The felicitation was eventually cut short only after officials were informed of casualties.
The Karnataka government acknowledged that the event was conducted without following standard operating procedures, announcing compensation for the deceased and covering medical expenses for the injured. RCB also confirmed it would provide compensation to the families of those who died.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have also shifted their home venue to Pune after disagreements with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which escalated following unverified match-fixing allegations against the team, later denied by RR.
