In the next IPL, reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play five of their home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the final two at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, the team announced on Tuesday.
Following the stampede that killed 11 fans following RCB’s first-ever title victory, the announcement put an end to concerns regarding whether the IPL 2025 winners would be permitted to play at their home venue, M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Major domestic events, including as the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, or even the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, have not taken place at the venue since that terrible incident.
“This significant development comes after months of hard work and close coordination across all concerned authorities with a common goal of bringing the games back to home ground for the fans,” RCB said in a release.
“RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru.”
“The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground,” the franchise added.
According to the team, the two “home matches” in Raipur will take place “per prior commitment.” Fans should be able to see their team play at home, according to RCB CEO Rajesh Menon.
“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive,” PTI quoted Menon as saying.
“The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”
“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon added.
