Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been officially cleared to host matches in the upcoming Indian Premier League season, months after a deadly crowd incident raised serious safety concerns.
The approval follows a comprehensive inspection by an expert committee appointed by G Parameshwara, which evaluated the stadium’s structural integrity and crowd management systems. According to reports, the venue now meets the required standards to safely host large-scale events.
The stadium, home to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is set to stage the opening match of the IPL season on March 28, where the defending champions will face Sunrisers Hyderabad. It is also scheduled to host a playoff fixture and the tournament final.
The decision marks a significant step forward after last summer’s tragic incident, in which 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede outside the stadium during celebrations of RCB’s IPL title win. Since then, the venue has remained closed for major events pending safety upgrades.
As part of the new measures, authorities have introduced digital QR-coded ticketing to better manage crowd flow and reduce congestion. Additional entry gates have also been installed to improve access and dispersal around the stadium.
Despite the clearance, RCB will split its home fixtures this season. While five matches will be played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the remaining two will take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, honoring a prior commitment.
The Karnataka state government had granted conditional approval earlier this year, contingent on the implementation of enhanced safety and operational protocols—now confirmed to be in place.
With these upgrades, the return of IPL action to Bengaluru signals renewed confidence in the venue’s ability to host high-profile cricket events safely.