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State cabinet allows IPL matches at Chinnaswamy
Karnataka government permits IPL matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2026, lifting a ban after last year's stampede, with new safety measures mandated.
The Karnataka government on Thursday authorised the return of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches to Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the 2026 season, reversing a suspension imposed after the stampede last year.
The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting, allowed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to host their home fixtures at the venue, which had been barred following the June 4 stampede during the franchise’s maiden title celebrations.
11 people were killed and several others injured in the incident, which also led to the Women’s World Cup final being moved from Bengaluru to Navi Mumbai and the stadium’s exclusion from India’s list of venues for the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.
“The Cabinet today (Thursday) decided to allow IPL matches to be held during IPL 2026. The home department has been directed to finalise the conditions and issue the necessary order in this regard. The department will update the conditions and outline the preparations to be followed in the order... The recommendations of the Justice Cunha Committee and the Maheshwara Rao Expert Committee were taken into consideration while arriving at this decision” said minister of law and parliamentary affairs HK Patil.
Officials said the home department would spell out the detailed terms of the order. When asked whether the permission extended beyond IPL fixtures to other international matches, the minister said the department would clarify.
“The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has been directed to follow the recommendations based on Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s report. Some of the recommendations have been complied with. They [RCB] had sought permission to play the inaugural match from Bengaluru, since they won last year and are defending champions. A high-level committee was formed by the government, comprising the GBA chief, the city police commissioner and others. We have received the report today (Thursday),” home minister G Parameshwara said after the cabinet deliberations with the stakeholders.
He added that several concerns raised by RCB representatives related to infrastructure. “Some of the concerns raised by representatives of RCB include gates, parking areas and holding areas, which are infrastructural in nature. The others, like providing ambulances and doctors, are not infrastructure concerns and can be immediately addressed. They say steps have already been taken,” he said.
Parameshwara added that responsibility for conducting matches would rest with the organisers.
“It is RCB and KSCA who are conducting the event. Those who host the event will have to be responsible. The government can’t be held responsible,” he said.
The stadium’s troubles stem from the findings of the state-appointed Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission, which earlier described the venue as fundamentally unsafe, pointing to deficiencies in design, crowd movement, emergency planning and traffic management.
Clearance for IPL matches is linked to compliance with 17 safety conditions set by city police, based on the commission’s recommendations. Officials said approval would follow only after full implementation.
“The guidelines focus largely on crowd control and emergency preparedness. Authorities have directed improvements to entry and exit systems both inside and outside the stadium, citing current practices where ticket distribution and spectator queues spill onto footpaths, disrupting traffic and posing safety risks.
The conditions require separate spaces for ticketing and queuing, smoother pedestrian movement, and widening of all stadium gates to a minimum of 6 feet,” said an officer familiar with the matter.
The stadium must also provide dedicated facilities for women and children, introduce a real-time system to track spectators inside, and upgrade parking and pick-up arrangements.
