IPL 2026 home base shift: Rajasthan Royals consider moving from Jaipur to Pune amid RCA tensions

Jaipur: In a substantial development ahead of IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural IPL champions, are considering shifting their home base from Jaipur to Pune’s MCA Stadium in Gahunje. The franchise sent a delegation recently to Pune to inspect stadium facilities, pitch conditions, hotel accommodations, and airport connectivity, as part of preliminary talks with the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA).

This potential move comes amid escalating tensions between RR and the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) after an RCA official publicly accused the Royals of match-fixing following a narrow defeat in IPL 2025, a claim strongly denied by the franchise. The Royals have demanded stringent action against the accuser, which appears to have a strained relations with the local cricket body.

If finalised, RR would host at least four of their IPL 2026 home matches at the Pune stadium, with the remaining fixtures likely in Guwahati, where they already play some home games. The MCA President, Rohit Pawar, is reportedly keen on bringing IPL matches back to Pune and is making efforts to accommodate the franchise.

However, the MCA Stadium in Pune is also attracting interest from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as their potential new home venue following safety concerns at their Chinnaswamy Stadium after a tragic stampede in IPL 2025 celebrations. MCA officials indicate discussions are ongoing with both franchises, with final decisions expected from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) before the IPL 2026 auction scheduled for December.