RCB Receives Government Approval to Host IPL 2026 Matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

The Indian Premier League 2026 is set to begin on March 28, 2026. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru received formal approval from the Karnataka government on Monday. 

The decision brings an end to months of uncertainty surrounding the venue following the tragedy that occurred during celebrations after RCB’s maiden IPL title victory in 2025.

Official Clearance Granted After Expert Committee Review

The official approval came after a meeting chaired by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwar with an expert committee appointed by the state government.

There were various representatives from KSCA, RCB, and the event management company DNA who also attended the meeting. However, during the discussion, the committee showed a detailed report on the preparedness and safety measures implemented at the stadium ahead of the upcoming season.

As per KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, the recommendations and the government’s review of the arrangements paved the way for the official clearance.

“Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee and after reviewing the arrangements in detail, the Hon’ble Home Minister has formally accorded approval for the conduct of the upcoming IPL matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. ” 

He also said: “The Karnataka state cricket association places on record its sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Home Minister, Dr. G. Parameshwar, for his leadership, guidance and support in facilitating this approval.”

Also Read: BCCI Issues Strict IPL 2026 Guidelines: Fresh Nets for Teams, No Practice on Rival’s Pitch

KSCA Expresses Gratitude to the Government and Review Committee

Apart from the opening fixture of the IPL 2026, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is also set to host the RCB Unboxing event as well as the tournament’s opening ceremony.

The KSCA also expressed its gratitude towards the members of the expert committee.

“Our special thanks are due to Shri Sreemant Kumar Singh, member secretary of the expert committee and commissioner of police, Bengaluru, for his proactive coordination and for assuring that all safety, security, and operational aspects were comprehensively evaluated.”

“KSCA further expresses its sincere appreciation to all the distinguished members of the expert committee and the officials associated with the expert committee and its sub-committees, whose careful assessment and constructive recommendations have been instrumental in enabling this crucial decision.”

Also Read: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Tickets: When Booking Starts, Price Range, and How to Buy Online?

RCB Squad and Schedule for Indian Premier League 2026

RCB’s squad for the IPL 2026: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, and Yash Dayal.

RCB Schedule 2026 (First Half of IPL 2026)