Pune Emerges as Frontrunner for RCB's Home Ground
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune has officially entered discussions to become the new home ground for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. This potential shift comes in the wake of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives during victory celebrations for RCB's maiden IPL title win.
Official Confirmation Awaits Post-Auction
Kamlesh Pisal, the honorary secretary of the MCA, confirmed that while talks are progressing positively, RCB will only be able to provide final confirmation after the player auction scheduled for December. The venue decision is expected by the second half of December, according to Pisal, who has been in direct discussions with RCB vice-president and head Rajesh Menon.
Pisal expressed strong confidence in Pune's candidacy, stating that Pune represents "the most ideal location" for RCB after Bengaluru. He highlighted several advantages including excellent airport connectivity, ample hotel accommodation, sufficient ground capacity, and a strong existing fan base in the region that makes Pune a logical choice.
Background: The Chinnaswamy Stadium Tragedy
The need for a potential venue change stems from the devastating events of June 4, 2025, when RCB fans gathered outside Chinnaswamy Stadium for a victory parade following the team's historic first IPL trophy win on June 3. The team had defeated Punjab Kings in the final held in Ahmedabad, ending an 18-year wait for the championship.
The planned victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium had been denied permission by authorities due to security concerns. Despite this, massive crowds assembled outside the stadium, leading to a stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Subsequent investigations by a judicial panel found multiple parties accountable for the lapses, including RCB management, an event management firm, and the Bengaluru city police. A state government committee subsequently declared Chinnaswamy Stadium "unsafe" for large-scale events and recommended moving such events to venues better equipped to handle massive crowds.
The stadium had already faced consequences prior to this decision, having been removed from the hosting list for the recently concluded Women's World Cup matches.
RCB, one of IPL's most popular franchises featuring Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli since the league's inception, now faces the challenging task of finding a new home that can accommodate their massive fan following while ensuring spectator safety and meeting all logistical requirements for hosting high-profile IPL matches.
