According to reports, the Maharashtra Cricket Association is in talks with Royal Challengers Bengaluru about providing the IPL team with a venue for the 2026 season. Following the deadly stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in May of this year, the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune is set to serve as the franchise's interim home, according to MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal.
The Karnataka Cricket Association's premier venue was neglected for both the recently finished Women's ODI World Cup and the forthcoming Men's T20 World Cup because Chinnaswamy Stadium needed to be renovated after the lives lost during the IPL team's winning parade. The IPL franchise will therefore need to make other arrangements because it is being sold this year.
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Talking to the Times of India, Pisal clarified that Pune is putting itself forward as a potential temporary home and is optimistic that an agreement would be reached to return IPL action to Pune, which has previously hosted two different franchises.
“This arrangement is in discussion but it’s not confirmed yet,” he said. “They have a problem in Karnataka, because of the stampede that happened. So, they are looking out for a venue and we have offered them our stadium.”
Pisal clarified that there were just a few issues in the discussions that needed to be resolved, but he seemed certain that Pune would be selected to host RCB's games. The MCA Stadium, which can accommodate more than 42,000 spectators—more than the Chinnaswamy itself—has previously played host to the IPL's Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Super Giant.
“There are preliminary discussions and there are a couple of technical things which need to be sorted out. If things fall in place then, probably yes, Pune will host the matches,” said Pisal.
Pisal went on to elaborate on the behind-the-scenes process of bringing IPL cricket back to Pune, stating that a decision is probably going to have to wait until late December, following the IPL 2026 player auction.
The MCA secretary further asserted that, considering the accommodations and logistics that an international stadium could offer, Pune would be the "most ideal" substitute after Bangalore.
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