Chinnaswamy stadium receives government clearance to host IPL 2026 final

The venue is set to host five RCB games in the league phase and two knockout games, including the final

Shashank Kishore

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 8:38 AM (3 hrs ago)

Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been cleared to host IPL 2026 after a government-appointed Expert Committee approved the venue for use on Monday.

The immediate implication is that Chinnaswamy - scheduled to host the season opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 - will also stage one playoff game and the final, in keeping with the tradition of the defending champions hosting the title clash.

A committee, appointed by Karnataka's home minister G Parameshwara, conducted a thorough review of the stadium premises on Friday. The day-long audit involved several checks for structural compliance as well as measures taken to enhance crowd control around the venue.

On Monday, the final nod was given following a meeting between the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials, RCB's top brass as well as members of the expert committee, chaired by G Maheshwar Rao.

The Chinnaswamy will host five RCB home games, while two others will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium in Raipur, as per a pre-arranged agreement between the franchise and the Chhattisgarh government.

RCB has committed to engaging with KSCA to roll out digital QR coded tickets as one of several measures to tackle overcrowding around the venue. They have also partnered with the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) to ensure hassle-free travel.

The metro services will be extended until 1am on match days, while ticketing formalities are being worked out. It's likely those with match tickets can travel free of cost. BMRCL is also likely to increase frequency of trains on all routes to prevent overcrowding.

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As for structural measures, the KSCA have increased the number of entry points by constructing six new gates around the Chinnaswamy, while widening existing entry gates. The old NCA premises had also been equipped with ramps and tarpaulin sheets to become a holding area for fans, as they make their way towards their respective stands.

The Bengaluru police and the KSCA are working to ensure Cubbon Road - which runs alongside the main entrance of the venue - will be cleared for vehicular movement at specific intervals on match days.

The IPL has announced the schedule only for the first two weeks of the competition in 2026. In the first leg, KSCA will host one more game (apart from the opener) on April 5, involving RCB and Chennai Super Kings.

Chinnaswamy last hosted a competitive fixture during IPL 2025. Since then, the venue has been mired in controversy following the death of 11 fans during RCB's victory celebrations on June 3.

All of KSCA's structural changes to comply with short-term measures recommended by the expert committee have happened in two months, following the December elections where Venkatesh Prasad, the former India fast bowler, assumed office after winning a tense election.

The stadium will now officially be handed over to the IPL franchise and their event management partners, DNA Entertainment. RCB are yet to announce sale of tickets officially. That process is expected to begin later this week.

Shashank Kishore is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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