Karnataka govt. gives conditional clearance to IPL matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

After much deliberations over cricket matches to be played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, the Karnataka government on Thursday agreed to allow the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the stadium with certain conditions.

Ending speculation about the home ground of the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting matches, the government cleared the way for the matches even as it will spell out conditions over the next couple of days.

It is speculated that spectators to be allowed against the capacity of the stadium could be brought down to have better crowd management and apply safety conditions.

Inaugural match?

As per convention, the defending champions will host the inaugural match of the IPL season as well as Qualifier 2 and finals. With decks cleared, it is expected that RCB, the reigning champions, will start off the IPL 2026 in Bengaluru. Incidentally, Bengaluru was host to the 2016 IPL final — before the convention was adopted — but lost the match to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The State government banned cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after 11 persons died in the stampede as the crowd surged into the stadium on June 4 when the winning RCB team was celebrating its maiden IPL victory inside the stadium.

Following the fiasco, the State government, which came under intense scrutiny by the Karnataka High Court, and was embarrassed in public, banned sporting activity with spectators until safety measures were put in place.

The retired judge Micheal Cunha who probed the matter listed 17 recommendations to make the stadium safe for spectators. While pressure was on the State government to allow matches to be played, the government asked GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao to scrutinise the compliance to the Cunha committee recommendation.

Safety compliance

On Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, when asked about the level of compliance by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in making the stadium safe for spectators, said that the Home Minister would be revealing the details.

“The Home Department will issue special order revealing conditions and preparedness needed. The government took note of the Cunha Committee report and the report of expert committee, headed by Maheshwar Rao, following which the decision was taken.”