RCB to play five IPL 2026 home matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, franchise confirms

RCB will play five of its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium

Updated on: Mar 3, 2026, 17:32:01 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Tuesday confirmed that it would play five of its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Earlier, the Karnataka government had given its nod to the venue to host the IPL and international games; however, the final call was to be taken by the defending champions. Last year, 11 people lost their lives in a stampede outside the ground during RCB's victory celebrations, and ever since then, Chinnaswamy hasn't hosted any competitive cricket match.

RCB to play home matches at M Chinnaswamy (AFP)

RCB took the decision to return to their home base after months of hard work and close coordination with all concerned authorities, with the common goal of bringing the games back to home ground for the fans.

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The remaining two home matches of RCB's IPL 2026 campaign will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, as per a prior commitment.

Also Read: BCCI changes plans for IPL 2026, start of tournament set to be pushed back

“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground; it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home," Rajesh Menon, CEO, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said in an official statement.

“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible," he added.

RCB also extended its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru.

“The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground,” the official statement stated.

“This effort and affirmative outcome reaffirm the franchise’s deep-rooted bond with its passionate home supporters and mark the sustained presence of the champions at their fortress,” it added.

Chinnaswamy to host opener

The decks have now been cleared for the Chinnaswamy to host the IPL opener on March 28. The defending champions will play the opening match of the season, and their opponent is likely to be revealed later this week when the BCCI confirm the schedule for the 19th season of the tournament.

Last year, RCB's wait for an elusive title in the IPL ended after the Rajat Patidar-led side defeated Punjab Kings in the summit clash. However, the victory celebrations a day later took an unfortunate turn after 11 people lost their lives in the stampede that occured outside the venue during the victory celebrations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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