RCB inspects Pune stadium for IPL 2026 matches

Bengaluru: The frenetic developments over the last week indicate that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are seriously exploring other venues to host their share of the Indian Premier League matches in the forthcoming season.

The 19th edition of the league commences on March 26. 

While the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur reportedly remains a favoured venue for the Bengaluru franchise, just ahead of the Holkar Stadium in Indore, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has revealed talks with both RCB and Rajasthan Royals to host their home fixtures at the MCA International Stadium in Gahunje in Pune. 

In a statement, the MCA expressed gratitude towards both franchises for showing interest and taking the time to visit the stadium. 

“We extend our sincere thanks to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals for visiting MCA International Stadium, Gahunje, Pune a couple of weeks back. Their presence marks a significant step in showcasing the MCA International Stadium, Pune, as a premier destination for top-tier cricketing events,” MCA said on X.

“Considering BCCI’s support for the Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are sure that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will approve the MCA International Stadium as a venue for upcoming fixtures of one of these teams in the near future,” it added. 

For the unversed, the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) efforts to bring high-profile cricket back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium have so far failed to convince an adamant government which has placed a blanket ban on big-ticket cricket following the June 4 stampede last year. 

The newly-elected KSCA officials, under its president Venkatesh Prasad, held talks with CM Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, besides high-ranking police officials and other key government agencies, but couldn’t obtain permission to host Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy matches that would have seen Virat Kohli return to the venue for the first time after June 4.