The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relocated two Chhattisgarh Ranji Trophy matches from Raipur after environmental restrictions prevented the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium from staging domestic fixtures, according to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore.
The disruption comes months after the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) assumed management of the venue under a long-term lease. With renovation work also underway, the association faces uncertainty over when the stadium can resume hosting regular competitive cricket.
Chhattisgarh loses two Ranji Trophy home fixtures
Chhattisgarh’s scheduled Ranji Trophy Elite matches against Andhra and Hyderabad were both transferred to their opponents’ home states following the stadium’s unavailability.
The October 26–29 fixture against Andhra was moved to the Devineni Venkata Ramana Praneetha Ground in Mulapadu, near Vijayawada. The subsequent match against Hyderabad, beginning November 2, was reassigned to the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad.
An Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) Official confirmed that the late venue change effectively turned Andhra’s scheduled away fixture into a home match.
The changes have also left Chhattisgarh’s remaining home schedule uncertain. Their Ranji Trophy fixture against Tripura in February 2027 is yet to be confirmed for Raipur.
Environmental restrictions complicate stadium operations
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued an order on July 2, 2026, restricting sporting activities at the Raipur stadium following concerns over groundwater use and compliance with environmental requirements.
The tribunal’s scrutiny included the venue’s estimated daily groundwater extraction of 828 kilolitres for ground maintenance, alongside failures to provide the required responses concerning water conservation and sustainable management.
The same order also affected Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and Dr DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
The restrictions are not the only obstacle facing the Chhattisgarh association. A Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) Official told Cricbuzz: “There are a couple of reasons for shifting the matches. We have undertaken renovation work at the ground and, of course, there is an NGT order. That is why we are unable to host the games.”
Long-term stadium lease faces an early challenge
The CSCS took over management of the New Raipur facility from the Chhattisgarh State Government in January 2026 under a 30-year lease carrying an option for renewal.
The environmental restrictions have therefore emerged during the association’s first year managing a stadium that has increasingly attracted major domestic and international fixtures.
Raipur’s international cricket programme began in 2023, with the venue subsequently staging matches involving India against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa across ODI and T20I formats.
Its profile expanded further in 2026 when Royal Challengers Bengaluru played two Indian Premier League (IPL) home matches there in May.
Those IPL fixtures took place before the NGT restrictions were imposed. The stadium subsequently received special permission to stage three women’s T20 Internationals between India and Zimbabwe on October 16, 18 and 20.
That exemption was subject to a deposit of ₹20 lakh with the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, allowing the international matches to proceed despite the broader restrictions on sporting activities.
December hearing to determine Raipur’s immediate future
The NGT’s next hearing concerning the stadium is scheduled for December 2026, with the outcome expected to influence whether the venue can accommodate upcoming cricket fixtures.
For Chhattisgarh, the disruption has coincided with a difficult start to the Ranji Trophy Elite season. The team sits fifth in Group B after recording one victory and two defeats across its first four matches.
The immediate scheduling question concerns February’s home fixture against Tripura. Its location remains unresolved, with the CSCS awaiting further clarity from the tribunal before Raipur can be confirmed as the host venue.
