Good news for RCB and Virat Kohli fans as KSCA gets state government nod to host IPL, international matches at Chinnaswamy stadium

International cricket and IPL matches will return to Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy stadium. In a significant development, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received approval from the Karnataka government to host these events at the venue.

KSCA shared this news through a press release and further stated: “The permit is subject to compliance with certain terms and conditions set by the Government and relevant authorities. KSCA is confident that it will comply with all stipulated conditions. The association has submitted a detailed compliance roadmap before the Expert Review Committee and is fully committed to implementing all safety, security and crowd management measures in letter and spirit.”

Following the tragic incident on June 4 last year, when the cup celebrations turned into a stampede, resulting in the death of 11 people, no matches were played in the field due to security concerns. The recently held Vijay Hazare Trophy matches were also not allocated to this venue, leading to most matches, including the final, being moved to the BCCI Center of Excellence on the outskirts of the city. As a result, Bengaluru did not host any matches in last year’s Women’s World Cup and is not listed as the venue for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup.

However, earlier in December, the Karnataka cabinet gave a conditional approval to hold IPL matches at Chinnaswamy, with newly appointed KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad prioritizing the revitalization of the ground.

With the World Cup schedule already set, Chinnaswamy will host a major event for the first time since 2025 during this year’s IPL as RCB defend their title.

The debates, the answers, and the real events unfolding behind the scenes?

Following the tragic loss of 11 people, including children, Chinnaswamy was closed for all cricket activities on June 4. While Women’s World Cup matches, including the final, have been moved to another venue, RCB has tried to identify Navi Mumbai and Raipur as the two locations for IPL 2026.

Numerous arrests occurred after the incident and team management faced scrutiny over their involvement, especially after police initially refused permission for the parade. However, the situation has eased in the last few months.

Meanwhile, KSCA president Prasad was steadfast in his efforts to bring the IPL back to the state and held multiple meetings with government officials to facilitate the same. Just two days ago, RCB had announced the installation of AI-powered cameras in the stadium to monitor fan movements, increasing the possibility of obtaining the necessary permission.

Now, it is not yet known whether Bengaluru will host all their home matches at Chinnaswamy this year or some of them will be played outside the city. The franchise is expected to make this clear in the coming days as the IPL is scheduled to start in a little over two months.

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