Fatal crowd crush casts long shadow over Bengaluru return
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has long been synonymous with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), serving as their home ground since the IPL’s inception in 2008. But after the tragic stampede that followed the team’s IPL 2025 title celebration — which left 11 dead and many more injured — that relationship is likely coming to an end.
According to a report by NDTV, RCB are now unlikely to return to Bengaluru for the 2026 season, a decision shaped by the emotional and reputational fallout from last year’s incident. The trophy celebration, held at the stadium just days after the franchise’s first-ever IPL title win, turned chaotic due to a lack of crowd control and planning.
The Karnataka government later admitted that no standard operating procedure was followed during the event. In response, both the state and the franchise pledged financial compensation to the families of the deceased and coverage of medical costs for the injured.
What further tarnished the moment was RCB’s own misstep — reports suggest that the franchise’s social media team continued to broadcast the celebration on Instagram Live, even as fans in the comments tried to alert them to the unfolding chaos. The live stream remained active until players and officials were finally informed about the casualties, prompting an early end to the event.
No talks with KSCA as RCB explores new home
RCB has not initiated any formal dialogue with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) about hosting IPL 2026 matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, reinforcing speculation that the franchise is set to relocate.
The frontrunner to become RCB’s new home is Raipur, with Indore also under consideration. Both cities offer international-standard infrastructure and are seen as logistically viable for hosting high-profile fixtures.
With the 2026 IPL season expected to begin around March 21, the absence of any venue confirmation has already put the KSCA in a sensitive position, limiting its ability to plan for a potential return.
RCB’s distancing from the venue was also evident in domestic cricket. In December 2025, a Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh — featuring Virat Kohli — was abruptly moved from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at the last minute, reportedly due to safety-related concerns.
Royals also likely to shift away from home stadium
RCB isn’t the only IPL franchise undergoing a home-ground shift. The Rajasthan Royals have reportedly moved their base to Pune following a fallout with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Tensions between the two sides escalated during IPL 2025, when an RCA official publicly accused the Royals of match-fixing — claims the franchise strongly denied and demanded action against.
Pune’s MCA Stadium, which has hosted both domestic and international matches, is likely to serve as RR’s home for the 2026 season.
For RCB, however, the motivation is far more personal. The memory of the fatal stampede, the backlash over mishandled communications, and the overall atmosphere in the city have made a return to Bengaluru difficult — for both the players and the franchise.
With Raipur poised to take over as their new home, the upcoming IPL season may mark the beginning of a new chapter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru — one shaped not just by cricketing ambitions, but also by the lessons of a hard and painful past.
