RCB to be kept away from Chinnaswamy Stadium for IPL 2026: Reports
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been eerily silent for over a month now. A much-awaited longing for the maiden IPL title finally ended in IPL 2025. The fan-favorites beat Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final to lift the title, their first in 18 years of the coveted tournament. However, what was supposed to be a feat worth celebrating for days to come met an unfortunate fate. The celebration that immediately followed the historic win was marred by a stampede that claimed 11 lives. The Chinnaswamy Stampede is a debatable issue now, with the involved authorities busy in mudslinging.
The home of RCB reportedly declared unfit to host any major event following Chinnaswamy Stampede
The latest update in the unfortunate case of the Chinnaswamy Stampede has brought yet another disappointing news for RCB. According to reports, the franchise will not be able to play any fixture at their home, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, in the next season, IPL 2026. Following their IPL 2025 victory, the team was quick to move to the celebratory part. Hours after their win in Ahmedabad, a victory parade was announced in Bengaluru, starting from Vidhan Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. What followed was a series of chaos.
The victory parade was canceled, but the team still traveled from Vidhan Soudha to Chinnaswamy, where the celebratory event unfolded. However, confusion prevailed among the passionate RCB fans across the day, 4 June. Initially, the fans were promised free entry to Chinnaswamy to witness their team. However, late in the evening, the requirement of entry passes was declared. The public had already accumulated around Chinnaswamy Stadium, and the crowd swiftly outnumbered the police personnel in the area. The sheer number of fans that turned up at the venue led to the authorities losing control of the situation, as a stampede broke out.
The Chinnaswamy Stampede led to the death of 11 fans, while over 30 were reported severely injured. The affected people also included police personnel. While RCB announced aid for the victims, the franchise has been inactive ever since the incident. Now, the Karnataka Government has blamed the franchise solely for the stampede, accusing RCB of fostering confusion among the fans and not allowing the Karnataka Police the time required to handle such events.
Now, as the investigation continues to find the real culprit behind the stampede that cost precious lives, a new update has emerged. According to a recent update, RCB could be held back from playing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2026. While a significant time remains for the next season to hit the floors, RCB is anticipated to be reeling in the aftermath of their unfortunate celebration. The report explains that the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been declared unfit to host major events and high-profile cricket matches. Thus, RCB would be allotted a new home ground for the next season.
