IPL 2026: RCB set to play five home games at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are slated to play five of their home matches in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue has received the necessary approvals to host games once again, and the defending champions will use it as their primary home venue for the upcoming IPL season. They may play rest of their two home games in Navi Mumbai or Raipur.

The franchise won its maiden IPL title in 2025 and hosted its victory celebration event at Chinnaswamy the very next day. However, the celebratory parade soon turned into a situation of stampede, leading to the death of eleven innocent fans. In the aftermath of the horrific event, the authorities had banned the ground from hosting any high-demand matches.

However, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) took deeper steps and initiatives to restore the cricketing glory back to the historic venue. After a thorough upgradation of facilities, including the widening of entry and exit gates, smoother crowd gathering and reduced venue capacity, the stadium has been shown the green light to host cricket matches once again, and it will be RCB who resume the action.

For allowing a faster entry and exit for ambulances at the venue, the KSCA has followed Justice John D'Cunha committee's findings to make the necessary makeshift arrangements. Additionally, the premises of the National Cricket Academy, located adjacently to the venue, will be used to hold crowd before allowing them in or out of the stadium premises.

Speaking of RCB's squad for the upcoming season, the Rajat Patidar-led side maintained their core winning squad. At the mini auction, they brought the likes of Jacob Duffy, Venkatesh Iyer, and Mangesh Yadav as the most prominent additions. Meanwhile, India's Under-19 stars Vihaan Malhotra and Kanish Chouhan will also don the RCB jersey in the next season.

RCB's squad for IPL 2026

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan

More to follow!