The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president, Venkatesh Prasad, has urged Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to hold their IPL 2026 home games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He highlighted the unwavering support from fans since the team's inception. The stadium recently received conditional approval from the Karnataka government to host IPL and international matches after extensive discussions with state agencies.

Prasad emphasised the importance of RCB's presence in Bengaluru, especially amid talks of potentially moving matches to Mumbai, Pune, or Raipur. "So, now the ball is in RCB's court. I also hope that RCB also gets involved and engages with the government for smooth conduct of the matches. So far, it has been only one sided. We are doing this for cricket. Whether it is IPL or international matches. We are doing this for cricket," he stated.

RCB's Response and Concerns

RCB acknowledged KSCA's efforts and the government's decision to allow matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium. They expressed appreciation for ongoing infrastructure improvements but noted some unresolved issues. "From our preliminary conversations with KSCA, there are still a few grey areas that need to be looked into, and we are considering these parameters and inputs from all stakeholders before arriving at a responsible decision for the team and our fans," said RCB management.

KSCA secretary Santosh Menon assured RCB that all government-recommended corrective measures have been implemented. He encouraged RCB to communicate any concerns so they can be addressed collaboratively. "RCB are keen on playing here. So, let’s not take that away from them. But they have certain apprehensions which they have to clarify, which we will sit together and resolve," Menon explained.

Future Matches and BCCI Assurance

Prasad mentioned that other franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals have shown interest in playing at Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, he refrained from discussing this further at present. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has assured KSCA of hosting international matches soon to compensate for missing out on recent major tournaments.

Menon further stated that RCB has been given time to decide on their participation at Chinnaswamy Stadium. "They have taken time to decide. They have said that they will tell us within the next 10 days about their decision. We are ready to play if they say yes," he added.

The KSCA remains hopeful that RCB will choose to play their home matches in Bengaluru, reinforcing their commitment to cricket in the region. The association is prepared to facilitate discussions between RCB and government officials if needed to ensure a smooth resolution of any outstanding issues.

With inputs from PTI