IPL 2026: RCB and RR Eye Pune as Potential New Home Ground

The Maharashtra Cricket Association has confirmed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals are indeed interested in making Pune their new home ground for IPL 2026.

This development comes after reports had earlier claimed that officials from both RR and RCB had visited the MCA International Stadium in Pune’s Gahunje in a bid to find a new home. It is more likely that RR could potentially have their home games in Pune in IPL 2026 as RCB have been given a green light to host games at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. 

Pune to become new home for RR, RCB in IPL 2026? 

Maharashtra Cricket Association took to social media platform X to put out a statement in which it acknowledged that RCB and RR had visited the MCA International stadium in Pune a couple of weeks back and thanked them for showing interest. The association pinned hopes on the BCCI to permit the venue as the home ground for one of the teams in the future. 

“Considering the BCCI’s support for the Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are sure that the BCCI will approve the MCA International Stadium as a venue for upcoming fixtures of one of these teams in the near future. With BCCI’s support, IPL matches can soon be hosted in Pune – bringing high-profile clashes, world-class players, and the electrifying IPL spectacle to fans in the city,” the MCA statement read.

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On January 2, reports claimed that Pune was all set to become RR’s new home, as the team wanted to move on from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The decision was reportedly taken after the Jaipur venue failed to comply with updated evacuation and safety norms. 

The stadium was also in advanced talks with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earlier this year. However, in December, the Karnataka cabinet granted permission for the M Chinnaswamy stadium to resume hosting matches. 

To wrap things up, Pune is really stepping up as a serious option for hosting IPL matches in 2026. Both the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have shown interest in the MCA International Stadium.

It seems like RR might be more inclined to move their home games due to safety issues in Jaipur, while RCB is likely to stick with Bengaluru after getting the green light. Ultimately, the ball is in the BCCI's court now.