The transfer may recommend that RCB will not play on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium within the coming years and Bengaluru will not host any matches in the course of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
On Thursday, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the construction of an international-level cricket stadium and sports complex in Anekal, a major town and taluk of Bengaluru Urban district, part of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region.
The decision was taken after the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s design and structure were deemed unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings in the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede last year during Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebrations after winning their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium’s replacement
The international cricket stadium and sports complex in Anekal will be built for an estimated cost of INR 2,350 crore. A 75-acre plot of land in Indlavadi village will be allotted, and the stadium capacity will be more than double that of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, 80,000 to 38,000.
The Karnataka Housing Board has given in-principle approval to the implementation of the project of an international-level cricket stadium and complex on a 75-acre plot of land in Indlavadi village under the Comprehensive Development Plan in Suryanagar-4th Phase Layout, Bangalore City, at a cost of Rs 2,350 crore. The KHB has been asked to present it again before the Cabinet for a decision after a detailed project report,” the Karnataka Cabinet mentioned in a note.
“The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is old and has a capacity of only 38,000. Many cities, both big and small, have stadiums that are bigger than Bengaluru. A Bengaluru Stadium, which meets the needs of the city with all the modern facilities, is a must for the city,” it further said.
The Anekal stadium will be the third international cricket stadium in Karnataka after the government approved building one in Mysore in April, while the international cricket stadium in Tumakuru is expected to be ready by December 2026.
What about RCB & T20 World Cup?
This development begs the question, where will RCB play from next year onwards? M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was their IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL) home ground. But that may no longer be the case. There are a few other international stadiums where RCB can shift their home base to, but Bengaluru fans will be deprived of watching their team.
It could also mean that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) won’t be able to host any matches during the 2026 T20 World Cup. KSCA was forced to shift the Maharaja Trophy T20 to the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Ground in Mysore and didn’t get the opportunity to host any 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup matches either.
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