IPL 2026 games at Chinnaswamy Stadium still await clearance

The fate of IPL 2026 matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains uncertain despite the Karnataka government’s in-principle approval. What should have been a routine confirmation has turned into a complex back-and-forth between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and the state authorities. With the IPL season slated to begin on March 26, clarity is still awaited. The uncertainty comes from the tragic events of June 4, 2025, when celebrations following RCB’s maiden IPL title win ended in a stampede outside the stadium, leaving 11 people dead and more than 50 injured. In the aftermath, cricket matches at the venue were suspended. The Karnataka government constituted an inquiry committee headed by Justice John Michael Cunha, which made several safety recommendations. Subsequently, another panel, led by Greater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, was tasked with assessing compliance. While Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minis