The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the first phase schedule of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, but matches scheduled in Bengaluru remain subject to government clearance.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are scheduled to begin the 19th edition of the IPL with a home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, the match will only take place if the venue receives approval from an expert committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka.
Inspection after 2025 stampede incident
According to a BCCI release, the matches planned in Bengaluru will be held only after the expert committee conducts a detailed inspection of the stadium and its match-day arrangements.
The committee is scheduled to meet and inspect the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026, where officials will carry out a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day operations. The exercise is intended to evaluate the venue’s preparedness and safety measures before granting approval.
The inspection comes in the wake of the 2025 stampede incident during RCB’s victory parade, which prompted authorities to review crowd management and security protocols at major sporting events in the city.
RCB to split home matches across two venues
As per the initial IPL schedule, RCB will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. The Raipur fixtures will serve as an alternate venue if clearance delays affect matches in Bengaluru.
Among the franchise’s 60-plus matches across seasons, Bengaluru has traditionally been the team’s primary home venue, with the Chinnaswamy Stadium known for its energetic crowd and high-scoring games.
RCB’s star batter Virat Kohli remains one of the key attractions for fans at the Bengaluru venue.
IPL 2026 first phase schedule announced
The first phase of IPL 2026 will feature 20 matches across 10 venues, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
The tournament will also include four double-headers, with afternoon matches beginning at 3:30 PM IST and evening matches at 7:30 PM IST.
The full schedule of the tournament will be announced after the dates for Assembly elections in three states are finalised, as election security arrangements may affect match logistics and venue planning.
For Bengaluru cricket fans, the upcoming inspection will be crucial in determining whether the city will host its share of IPL 2026 matches at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium.