The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the hosting of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium following recommendations from a government-appointed expert committee.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the state would implement the recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha report, with strict norms on ticketing, crowd regulation, and stadium access.
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that the approval includes a cap of 35,000 spectators along with other safety measures.
Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President Venkatesh Prasad welcomed the move, calling it a positive step. RCB officials were also present at the meeting.
Cricketing activities at the stadium had been suspended since June 2025 after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL title celebrations left 11 people dead and several others injured.
The decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister G. Parameshwara and attended by senior officials, including the state police chief and Bengaluru’s police commissioner.
It is now up to the RCB management to decide whether to retain Chinnaswamy as their home venue or explore other options.
IPL 2026 is scheduled to begin on March 26 and conclude on May 31.
(ANI)
