Bengaluru’s renowned M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is now ready to host international and IPL cricket once again.
“The Government of Karnataka’s Home Department has cleared the way for international and IPL cricket to return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, granting formal permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host marquee matches at the venue.”
This approval comes after a long period during which major matches were not being held at the stadium due to the tragic stampede that occurred in 2025.
A Long-Awaited Return
In the past few months, “the BCCI had moved several high-profile events away from Chinnaswamy. The Duleep Trophy and the India–South Africa A series were shifted to the Board’s Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of the city.”
Matches for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, which were scheduled to be held at the stadium, were also moved to another venue. The stadium’s administrative team, the KSCA, also faced difficult times.
“The association operated without a treasurer and a secretary for months after both officials resigned, citing moral responsibility following the incident.”
The tragic incident occurred on June 4, 2025, when “a crowd crush outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s maiden IPL title celebrations led to the death of eleven people, with 56 others injured.”
Thousands of fans had gathered outside the stadium, and the situation spiraled out of control.
New Hope for Cricket
Now, with government approval, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is gradually returning to the IPL and international cricket calendar.
“With government clearance now in place, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to gradually return to the international and IPL calendar, marking a significant step towards normalcy after one of the darkest chapters in its history.”
This move is considered significant for both the stadium and the city, as the absence of major cricket tournaments for a long period had caused difficulties for both fans and players.
The KSCA has also stated that special attention will be paid to safety standards in the coming months and that all necessary updates to the stadium have been completed.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is now planning for the new season of IPL and international matches, which will allow cricket fans in Bengaluru to witness major matches after a long time.
