The Karnataka State Cricket Association has expressed uncertainty over whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru will stage their IPL 2026 home matches in Bengaluru. KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad addressed the issue on Thursday, stating that despite recent progress regarding permissions, the franchise has not yet confirmed its plans to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has received government clearance to host international fixtures and IPL matches after a temporary halt caused by a stampede incident following RCB’s IPL title win in 2025. Even so, RCB has not formally communicated its decision, even as the BCCI has reportedly set January 27 as the deadline for franchises to confirm their venues.
Government Clearance And KSCA’S Efforts
Prasad explained that the KSCA is actively working with the Karnataka government to secure complete and unconditional approval for matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He made it clear that the association wants RCB to continue playing all their home fixtures in Bengaluru, including the opening match of the season.
At a press conference, he said, “We are hoping RCB plays all of their matches, including the opening game, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. We are working to get unconditional clearance from the Karnataka government to host IPL and international matches at Chinnaswamy by the end of February so that we can hand it to the BCCI.” According to him, once such approval is in place, it can be formally submitted to the board, removing any administrative hurdles from the KSCA’s side.
Responsibility Lies With The Franchise
Prasad stressed that the next steps rest entirely with the franchise. He pointed out that the state government has reportedly asked RCB to provide several assurances related to hosting IPL matches, and that the franchise may be unhappy with some of these conditions.
He stated, “The onus is now on RCB to hold talks with the Karnataka government and take this forward; it’s their responsibility to return to Bengaluru and not take the game away from the city.”
He further added, “We get the feeling that RCB is holding back and is not moving forward with a dialogue with the government. RCB has reached out to the KSCA over hosting IPL matches, but I feel they should have done so much earlier. I believe RCB is not very confident about hosting the IPL here.”
Concluding his remarks, the former Indian fast bowler reminded the franchise of its bond with the city and its supporters, saying, “RCB has grown to this level because of the fans here; they have an obligation towards the people of Bengaluru.”
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