Cricket is set to return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) received clearance from the state Home Department to host international and IPL matches, ending months of uncertainty following last year’s tragic stampede.

The approval came after a government-appointed task force reviewed the stadium’s upgraded security infrastructure and found the measures satisfactory.

“We are pleased to inform that the Home Department, Government of Karnataka, has granted permission to KSCA to host international and IPL matches at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium,” KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said.

All cricket activities at the venue were suspended after 11 fans were killed in a stampede outside the stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL trophy celebrations last year. A probe later blamed poor crowd management and inadequate safety arrangements for the incident on June 4, when nearly three lakh fans gathered near the venue.

Since then, the newly elected KSCA leadership under former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has been in discussions with government agencies to restore cricket at the stadium.

KSCA confident of meeting safety norms

Mruthyunjaya said the permission is subject to compliance with government-mandated safety and crowd-control measures.

“The Association has already submitted a detailed compliance roadmap to the Expert Review Committee and is committed to implementing all safety, security, and crowd-management measures in letter and spirit,” he said.

RCB likely to stay at Chinnaswamy

The clearance could also end speculation over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) shifting their home matches to Raipur or Pune for the upcoming IPL season.

In a recent communication to KSCA, RCB proposed installing 300–350 AI-enabled surveillance cameras at the venue and offered to bear the estimated Rs 4.5 crore cost, underscoring the franchise’s eagerness to continue playing at its home ground.

A final decision on the proposal is expected at the next KSCA Managing Committee meeting.