The fate of Indian Premier League 2026 matches at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium has come under a cloud, with the state government directing a comprehensive structural fitness test before granting approval for hosting games.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has issued a formal notice to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), instructing it to submit a detailed structural safety report for the stadium. The report must be prepared by experts certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), ensuring that the assessment meets stringent technical standards.
Built on 17 acres of PWD-leased land in the heart of the city, the stadium must now demonstrate that its spectator galleries and overall structure are safe to accommodate large crowds. The government has made it clear that only after independent experts certify the stadium’s structural fitness will IPL matches be permitted to return to Chinnaswamy in 2026.

Matches Taken Out of Chinnaswamy

The M Chinnaswamy has not been given hosting rights for a single match since the stampede incident in June, which claimed the lives of 11 people. Apart from the 11 deaths, nearly 50 people were injured during an event to felicitate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team after their maiden IPL title win.
A month later, an independent commission led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha, deemed the stadium fundamentally unsafe for large scale events. In its report, the commission issued a strong warning that continuing to host large events at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium could seriously endanger public safety.

It said the stadium is not suitable for managing big crowds and that holding such events there comes with “unacceptable risks” related to crowd control, emergency response, and traffic movement in the city.

After the report, the Indian Cricket Board took away Bengaluru's hosting rights of the Women's ODI World Cup and gave it to Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium. Bengaluru was initially set to host important games in the tournament, including the final. Apart from the Women's World Cup, the BCCI did not grant Bengaluru any matches in the men's T20 World Cup as well, set to be hosted in the months of February and March 2026.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been home to Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the start of the Indian Premier League. It is known to be one offer one of the best game-watching experience for fans in India.