RCB’s home at risk as M Chinnaswamy Stadium faces strict safety clearance for IPL 2026

Bengaluru’s iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium is facing a serious setback ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), as the Karnataka state government has ordered a full structural fitness test before the venue can host even a single game.

As reported by India Today, the Public Works Department (PWD) has sent an official notice to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), asking them to submit a detailed fitness report.

M Chinnaswamy Stadium must prove structural safety to host IPL 2026 matches

The PWD also made it clear that the safety report must be prepared only by experts certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

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Only after independent specialists confirm that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is safe will the venue get permission to host games. The Karnataka state government wants proof that its galleries and overall structure are strong enough to hold massive crowds again.

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The inspection has become mandatory because the stadium stands on 17 acres of PWD-leased land and must prove that its galleries and structure can safely handle large crowds.

The government is taking no chances and is making sure that the assessment meets stringent technical standards after the tragic stampede in Bengaluru, where 11 people died and nearly 50 were injured during an event held to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL title win. Notably, RCB won maiden IPL title in June 2025, beating PBKS in the final.

M Chinnaswamy Stadium declared unsafe by Justice D’Cunha Report

A month after that tragic stampede, an independent committee led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha declared that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was not suitable for big events.

The report warned that hosting huge gatherings at this venue involved serious risks related to crowd management, emergency planning, and even city traffic movement.

Following the Justice’s assessment, Bengaluru has lost major cricketing events. The recent ICC Women’s World Cup hosting rights, including the final, were taken away from the KSCA by the BCCI and shifted to Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium was also not given a single match of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 schedule for February and March next year. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been the home of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the start of the IPL.

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But now everything depends on the upcoming structural safety report. Only if the experts declare the stadium fit will IPL 2026 matches return to Bengaluru.

BCCI calls urgent meeting before Raipur ODI

Meanwhile, the BCCI has reportedly called an urgent meeting just hours before the second ODI against South Africa on December 3 in Raipur. The unexpected move comes at a time when discussions around the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are gaining heat, even though both have bounced back with superb performances.

It is being said that the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, joint secretary Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will attend the meeting. It is still unclear if the new BCCI president, Mithun Manhas will join. Since the meeting is on match day, senior players like Kohli and Rohit are unlikely to be part of the meeting on Wednesday.