The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is edging towards a full re-opening after Karnataka’s state cabinet gave the green light for competitive cricket to resume. Newly elected Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad secured the approval during meetings this week with chief minister Siddharamaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and senior officials in Belagavi.
First up, the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Delhi’s league fixtures—initially pencilled in for Alur—are set to shift across the city, largely for security reasons once Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were named in Delhi’s oversized squad. Both are expected to be available for at least the opening three games, so the KSCA wants the bigger, better-served Chinnaswamy. The association is exploring the idea of opening 2,000-3,000 seats to the public, aware that two of India’s headline acts will draw a crowd even for a domestic one-day competition.
A longer-term goal sits quietly in the background: getting Royal Challengers Bengaluru back to their home ground for IPL 2026. “We’re on track for the IPL to be back,” an office-bearer privy to the developments told ESPNcricinfo. Work on the D’Cunha Committee recommendations—mainly safety, access and crowd-control upgrades—will begin in phases, KSCA officials say.
The context is sobering. No senior match has been staged at the venue since 4 June, when a crush outside the gates during RCB’s IPL victory parade claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured. The fallout was immediate. August’s Maharaja Trophy shifted to Mysore, and five ICC Women’s World Cup fixtures, including the final, were re-routed to other cities. Trust, once lost, takes time to rebuild.
“To avoid any future incidents, we have put in place precautionary measures. We have granted permission accordingly,” deputy chief minister Shivakumar confirmed after Friday’s cabinet meeting. He added, “We have no intention of stopping cricket matches. But crowd-management measures need to be examined. We also intend to implement the recommendations of the Justice Michael D’Cunha Committee in a phased manner. Venkatesh Prasad too has agreed to this.”
Prasad, a former India fast bowler, has made safety his first big test in office. His team insists nothing will be rushed. The early-December window for Vijay Hazare fixtures offers a controlled environment—smaller crowds, domestic stakes—yet still demands a professional standard of security. Should those matches run smoothly, attention will shift to the more logistically intense IPL circus.
From a player’s view, the change of venue could be a welcome bonus. Kohli last batted at the ground in May 2025, and the thought of a low-key domestic hit-out on familiar turf will interest locals and broadcasters alike. Pant, easing back towards full match fitness, also benefits from the larger arena’s medical and practice facilities.
There is, however, work to do. Entry points must be widened, surveillance improved, and steward training overhauled. Funding is not yet fully outlined, though KSCA sources speak of a mix of state support and internal reserves.
For now, a measured optimism surrounds Bengaluru cricket. Domestic 50-over games in December are hardly headline material, yet they mark an important step. If the stands fill, the turnstiles tick smoothly and the focus stays on the cricket, the IPL road will feel a little shorter for everyone involved.
