Breaking News:KSCA confident but RCB yet to commit to Chinnaswamy– What Just Happened

Even as the Karnataka government has opened the door for a return of top-level cricket to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, uncertainty surrounds whether the venue will actually host Indian Premier League matches this season, and whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru will return to their long-time home.

RCB have welcomed the government’s conditional approval and acknowledged the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) ongoing infrastructure work, but the franchise has stopped short of confirming the Chinnaswamy as its home venue for the 2026 season. Citing unresolved “grey areas” around safety conditions and stakeholder responsibilities, RCB have indicated that a final decision will only be taken after further deliberations.

In a statement, RCB said: “We welcome Karnataka Government’s decision to allow matches to be held in the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium and we also recognise and highly appreciate KSCA’s efforts in the ongoing infrastructure work that has led to this conditional approval to host matches.

“While our desire is always to play at our home ground, in front of our ardent fans, we want to be thorough in our commitment to further understand the conditions applicable to host matches here and the measures taken to ensure fans safety protocols are met. Our goal is to see how best all stakeholders involved can work together.

“We have repeatedly stated that fans are the heart and soul of RCB, we have always had a fans-first approach, and we want to work together to ensure they have the best and safe experience. From our preliminary conversations, there are still a few grey areas that need to be looked into, and we are considering these parameters and inputs from all stakeholders before arriving at a responsible decision for the team and our fans.”

RCB’s guarded stance stands in contrast to the confidence exuded by the KSCA, which believes it has already crossed a major hurdle. The KSCA is moving at a swift pace with restructuring activities at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, based on the recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Committee that was constituted following the tragic stampede incident in June 2025. Last week, the association received a conditional approval from the Karnataka government to resume hosting high-profile matches, including the IPL and international fixtures, at the iconic Bengaluru venue.

Addressing the media on Wednesday (January 21), KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad described the clearance as the result of an intense 45-day effort by the newly elected managing committee, involving sustained engagement with multiple government agencies. He said the approval would not have come through had the authorities not been convinced about the timelines and the feasibility of the safety upgrades proposed at the stadium.

“We have done everything possible to get that conditional letter,” Prasad said, adding that the government’s nod reflected confidence in the association’s roadmap and execution plan. According to him, the KSCA is now working towards securing an unconditional clearance by the end of February, after completing all remaining works mandated by the authorities.

Those measures include widening of entry and exit gates to prescribed norms, creation of internal holding areas to regulate crowd flow, improved access for fire engines and emergency services, enhanced fire-safety infrastructure including additional water storage capacity, and changes to ramps and circulation areas to ease spectator movement.

The KSCA is also moving towards a fully digital ticketing system as part of its crowd-management overhaul. Entry on the Queens Road side will be restricted to two gates, with spectators redirected internally to their designated sections. Given the vulnerability of the Queens Road stretch during high-footfall events, it will also be cordoned off from vehicular movement on matchdays, a measure the association is implementing in coordination with the traffic police.

KSCA secretary Santosh Menon said the association’s focus was on eliminating even the smallest risks, regardless of the fact that the June 2025 incident did not occur during a cricket match. “In the last 50 years of matches hosted here, there has never been an incident during a match,” Menon said, adding that the aim now is to make entry, exit and movement within the stadium simpler and safer than before.

“Notwithstanding, what we are doing is trying to make it even more simpler, even more easier for the crowd to come in. Some of the recommendations what the Cunha Commission has suggested and the police has suggested is, most importantly, have holding areas within the stadium, so that it becomes easy. Have a separate queue for children and women, which is being adhered to. Have easier access with regard to ramps, etc., rather than steps. So, that is being adhered to.

“Though they were not very major issues during a match. However, we are trying to even mitigate those issues so that even the smallest negligence on part of any agency should not affect the safety and security of the spectators. That’s very, very clear. As far as the agencies are concerned, we have got clearance from the BESCOM (Electricity) already, and a compliance ticket from the health department already.

“Only two agencies which we are working with right now are – one is the fire department and the other is the PWD (Public Works) and police together, because that’s with regard to gates. But like the president has reiterated couple of times, we are very confident and extremely confident that we will achieve all of that within this immediate time,” added Menon, who also took members of the media on a walk-through of the stadium after the press conference, pointing out and explaining the ongoing and planned safety-related works.

While the KSCA believes it is on course to meet all conditions within the stipulated timelines, clarity from RCB remains elusive. From the association’s standpoint, that process now needs deeper engagement. Prasad confirmed that RCB have reached out to them over the past week and that discussions have begun. He also emphasised that the safety upgrades being carried out are non-negotiable and will be completed irrespective of whether IPL matches are ultimately staged at the venue.

“Now, after doing all this (getting conditional approval and beginning structural changes), I sincerely hope that Royal Challengers Bengaluru play all their home matches, including the inaugural match, here at the Chinnaswamy stadium. The ball is now in RCB’s court. The onus, the responsibility, is now on RCB. Have a meaningful dialogue with the government, engage with them for the smooth conduct of the matches,” said Prasad.

Menon, however, struck a more conciliatory note, indicating that channels of communication remain open. He revealed that both KSCA and RCB attended a recent IPL governing council meeting, where it was made clear that the final resolution lay between the two parties. “RCB have said they are keen on playing, and that should not be taken away from them,” Menon said. “They do have certain apprehensions, which we will sit together and try to resolve.”

Expressing optimism, he added that the KSCA is willing to facilitate discussions with the government if required. “I am sure the government and they (RCB) will also be able to resolve it once the ice is broken. We have requested RCB to come along with us and engage, and we are willing to facilitate those discussions if required.”