Royal Challengers Bengaluru will not play at Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2026 after safety concerns following last year’s tragic stampede. Rajasthan Royals also face relocation, adding unexpected twists to the upcoming season’s home base reshuffle.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to shift their home base for the 2026 Indian Premier League season, with reports confirming that the defending champions will not host matches at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The decision follows the tragic stampede during the team’s victory parade last year, which claimed 11 lives and injured more than 50. Since then, the stadium has remained under scrutiny, with top‑flight cricket yet to return.
According to The Times of India, RCB officials have finalised plans to stage five matches in Navi Mumbai and two in Raipur. The arrangement was reached after meetings with local authorities, and an official announcement is expected soon.
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The relocation is temporary, as the Karnataka State Cricket Association continues efforts to restore confidence in the stadium’s safety standards. Despite consultations with the state government, the venue was denied permission to host Vijay Hazare Trophy fixtures last December, forcing those matches to be moved to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
The Justice John Michael D’Cunha committee, appointed after the June 4 stampede, delivered a grim assessment of the stadium, labelling it “highly unsafe” for large‑scale events. That report has played a decisive role in delaying the return of major cricket to the iconic Bengaluru ground.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are also preparing for a change of base next season. With the Rajasthan Cricket Association still unable to resolve its long‑standing electoral disputes, their home fixtures will be shifted to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had earlier warned the RCA that failure to conduct elections would make it difficult to stage the tournament in Jaipur.
