The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 31, 2026. However, uncertainty surrounds whether defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will get the opportunity to host matches at their home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, following a deadly stampede earlier this year.
Traditionally, the IPL opener is hosted at the home venue of the previous season’s champions.
While RCB lifted their maiden IPL title in 2025, it is not yet clear if Bengaluru will host the opening match, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to release the full tournament schedule.The M Chinnaswamy Stadium was at the center of controversy in June when celebrations marking RCB’s title win spiraled into chaos. A massive turnout for a street celebration overwhelmed local authorities, leading to a stampede that claimed 11 lives. The incident prompted authorities to halt major cricket events at the venue.Although the Karnataka government has since granted conditional clearance to the stadium, it must still satisfy stringent safety and security requirements before hosting high-profile matches.
The RCB franchise also faced strong criticism for allegedly encouraging public celebrations without securing necessary permissions from government agencies.
Addressing the situation, newly elected Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad said that discussions are ongoing. “As per tradition, the IPL opening match is held at the home ground of the defending champions.
However, there has been uncertainty due to the stampede during RCB’s celebrations on June 4. I have discussed the matter with the BCCI, and they are deliberating on whether Bengaluru can host the opener,” Prasad told reporters in Mysuru.The fallout from the incident has already affected the city’s sporting calendar, with Bengaluru losing the opportunity to host Women’s World Cup matches earlier this year because of security and administrative concerns.
