Rajasthan Royals make desperate plea to government to stay at Home for IPL 2026, ask for Indemnity Waiver

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With the IPL 2026 season fast approaching, Rajasthan Royals (RR) are urging the Rajasthan government for an indemnity waiver to host matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS), as persistent safety red flags from a detailed audit threaten their home advantage.

An independent 700-page report by Tata Projects, commissioned by RR, exposed grave deficiencies at SMS-failing benchmarks in life safety, structural integrity, and adherence to central codes including the National Building Code (NBC), National Electric Code (NEC), Fire Safety Code, and Sports Ground Safety norms. The audit, spanning two months, rendered the venue "unsafe" for IPL-scale crowds.

The Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC)-operating under an ad-hoc setup sans a functional Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA)-dismissed most claims. A 10-day PWD-led review concluded the issues were minor, requiring only routine fixes, and affirmed SMS's readiness. Yet, BCCI consistently rates it the IPL's weakest venue for fan experience, slamming outdated amenities, lax security, and family-unfriendly setups.

"Safety, security, and comfort are IPL non-negotiables," a BCCI official told PTI. The board had granted RSSC exceptional direct access to state authorities in 2024-25 but warned against precedents. Post-Chinnaswamy's deadly 2025 stampede, caution is rife-contrastingly, Karnataka greenlit Bengaluru's venue for RCB swiftly.

Without resolution, BCCI can't finalize schedules, leaving RR in limbo as peers like RCB gear up.