Cricket Matches to Resume at Chinnaswamy Stadium for IPL and International Games

bengaluru: Cricket fans can breathe a sigh of relief after the Karnataka State Cricket Association operator of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru city received approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka, to host cricket matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL)-2026 and other international cricket fixtures.

However, permission to host cricket matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium comes with conditions of compliance with certain terms and conditions laid down by the Government of Karnataka and relevant authorities.

Following the stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium, which left 11 dead and around 70 injured, the State Government withdrew KSCA’s permission to host cricket matches after a large crowd gathered around the stadium made a desperate attempt to enter the stadium to see congratulations to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players for winning the IPL-2025 trophy. The stampede occurred on June 4.

In December, KCSA of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had approached the State Government for permission to host the Vijay Hazare cup cricket match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, but the permission was rejected by the State Government. The match was later shifted to a venue at the BCCI Center of Excellence near Devanahalli, close to the city of Bengaluru.

On KSCA being given permission to resume matches at the Chinnaswamy stadium, KSCA’s Official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya in a note published here on Saturday stated that he is “confident that KSCA will fulfill all stipulated conditions (set by the State Government)”.

The association has prepared a detailed compliance roadmap before the Expert Scrutiny Committee, which also includes the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), Fire and Emergency Services, Health authorities and others, and remains fully committed to implementing all safety, security and crowd management measures in letter and spirit.