IPL 2026 in Bengaluru likely to get nod after stadium safety overhaul

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is likely to receive the green signal from the multi-departmental committee to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is likely to receive the green signal from the multi-departmental committee to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

This follows KSCA putting in place safety measures suggested by the one-man judicial inquiry commission of former High Court judge Michael Cunha, sources confirmed to The Hindu.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara is likely to make an announcement in this regard on Monday (March 16) after a meeting with the committee, when the final report will be submitted. The committee members say that matches will, in all likelihood, be played with full spectator capacity, though a negligible reduction in stand capacity can be expected.

No big ticket matches have been held in the stadium since June 4, 2025, when 11 fans died in a stampede during an Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations.

This time around, cricket fans visiting the stadium will see new safety protocols, as they will need to pass through two layers of gates in a systematic manner, with the stadium having undergone major structural modifications. Several no-entry points have been implemented, multiple holding areas have been created, and even the gate numbers have been changed, according to a committee source.

For years, congestion along Queen’s Road during matches has been a major concern. The committee appears to have found a solution: no spectator entry will be allowed from the gates along Queen’s Road.