RCB left with no stadium for IPL 2026, KSCA Won't Allow

There has been a major fiasco for RCB surrounding the KSCA and the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after the stampede incident, which made rounds on social media. The KSCA has been further delaying its elections, which is leading to further delay of RCB's return to the Chinnaswamy.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a massive blow after they lifted their maiden title in the history of the IPL. RCB had organized a victory celebration at their home ground in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, but it went south when the excessive mob resulted in an unfortunate stampede.

A committee was formed by the KSCA and the Karnataka government under a Justice, and the committee ruled out the Chinnaswamy Stadium from being adequate for participation in such events.

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RCB will not get Chinnaswamy back as their home ground before IPL 2026

Just a few days ahead of the IPL mini-auction, it was reported that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru might have to play their home matches out of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, as the ground is yet to remove its ban sustained due to the stampede.

Several options, including Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Cricket Stadium and the other stadiums in Trivandrum, were cited as options to emerge as RCB's home ground for the next edition of the IPL.

However, since the KSCA board elections are constantly being stalled over the months, Venkatesh Prasad, a candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections for the KSCA, has claimed that this would only delay RCB's return to Chinnaswamy.

"We were shocked to hear that the elections were deferred, and they might be held before the 30th of December or even postponed later... We are here for only one reason: to bring cricket back to Chinnaswamy Stadium."

"We also hear that the Bengaluru franchise might play some matches outside Bengaluru. Why should that happen? If we have to bring those matches back, we need to conduct these elections. They've been delayed by more than two months," said Prasad, who looked frustrated by the delay of the elections, which were scheduled for the 30th of September.

KSCA is violating its own legacy, opines the President candidate

The Karnataka Cricket Association has always maintained a legacy of being led by former cricketers, but maybe for the first time, some non-cricketer candidates have been brought into the scenario, and for guys like Venkatesh Prasad, this seemed a bit derogatory.

"It is shocking to hear that KSCA, which has always been led by a cricketer... That legacy is at risk. By fielding a non-cricketer against a cricketer... I am not scared of anyone... the very person who is putting this non-cricketer once said that the cricketers need to be leading the association. Now he's going back on his word.... Cricket is suffering," he concluded.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Venkatesh Prasad, former India cricketer & candidate for post of President in Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections, says, "We were shocked to hear that the elections were deferred, and they might be held before the 30th of December… pic.twitter.com/S2tTrfqIIF

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2025

Will RCB go after Venkatesh Iyer in this mini-auction as well?

On the other hand, the defending champions of the IPL have not released several players but have let go of their overseas options in Liam Livingstone and Tim Seifert, alongside South African pacer Lungi Ngidi.

Though the Royal Challengers still have players like Jacob Bethell and Romario Shepherd to fill in a void in the middle-order, their roles cannot exactly be like Livingstone, who was more of a batter at no. 5. RCB would hence hunt for his replacement and also be keen to bring in a more consistent performer at no. 3 than Devdutt Padikkal.

Venkatesh Iyer's insane price tag was a result of the tussle between RCB and KKR in the last mega-auction; hence, it would be interesting to witness if RCB are still keen on having the powerful left-hander from India, with a significant purse left, as they enter the mini-auction.

ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir gives mixed signals to Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal before 2nd Test