Karnataka Deputy CM makes a big statement on chances of RCB playing IPL 2026 matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made a massive statement on the chances of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2026. RCB are the defending champions, having won the 2025 edition.

Following their historic victory, their celebrations in Bengaluru went wrong, resulting in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ever since, there were speculations about whether the team would play any of their IPL 2026 matches at the venue. The stadium even lost the rights to host some of the 2025 Women's World Cup matches.

However, DK Shivakumar confirmed that the IPL 2026 matches will not be shifted from the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He made the statement on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after voting in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections.

“This is a matter of respect for the state of Karnataka and Bengaluru. We will take steps to ensure that the next IPL matches are held here. I am a cricket fan. We will take care that the recent disaster does not happen again and ensure that the stadium’s dignity remains. The stadium will be developed by managing the crowd within the legal framework. In addition, we will build a bigger stadium as an alternative," he was quoted as saying by News18.

Notably, the iconic stadium is exactly where it all began, as RCB hosted the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first-ever IPL match back in 2008.

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RCB make key retentions and releases ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Meanwhile, RCB have begun their preparations to defend their maiden IPL crown. The defending champions made key retentions and releases ahead of the 2026 auction. They released seven players - Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, and Mohit Rathee.

As for the retentions, they held back skipper Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jocob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Tushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

They will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of ₹16.40 crore. The aim will be to fine-tune the squad and build an even stronger team to win back-to-back titles.