The fourth edition of the Maharaja T20 Trophy will now start in Mysuru on 11 August after organisers failed to secure police clearance to use Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The late switch, confirmed to franchise owners earlier this week, leaves teams with precious little time to move kit, staff and players 150 kilometres down the highway.
For the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) the timing is awkward. Chinnaswamy is pencilled in to stage five matches at the Women’s World Cup from 30 September, including the opener and a semi-final. An ICC official privately played down talk of a venue change, saying the global body is “monitoring but not alarmed”, yet the scrutiny is unavoidable.
The backdrop is grim. Eleven people died and more than 50 were injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory parade outside Chinnaswamy on 4 June. A state-appointed panel later described the venue as “unsafe” for large gatherings and “strongly recommended” that major events be held elsewhere until crowd-management measures improve. Two KSCA office-bearers stepped down, accepting “moral responsibility”.
Temporary fixes and fresh headaches
With only a fortnight’s notice, the KSCA has scrambled to erect makeshift stands, prepare pitches and rig up broadcast facilities at Mysuru’s compact Wadeyar Stadium. Ticket allocations and travel plans are being rewritten daily. One franchise executive admitted the process is “messier than we’d like but doable”.
Most squads had already been training in Bengaluru, so Mysuru Warriors suddenly have home-ground advantage without moving an inch. Karun Nair, fresh from India’s Test series in England, is set to captain the side but may miss the opening fixtures after jarring a finger at The Oval. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who collected eight wickets in that decisive Test, has been advised to rest and will join “mid-tournament if all’s well”, according to team physio notes.
Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal headline the other outfits, while younger names such as wicketkeeper R Smaran, seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak and all-rounder Nikin Jose will hope the television spotlight lands on them. The women’s Maharani T20, already under way at Alur on the Bengaluru outskirts, continues unaffected.
World Cup countdown
Whether Chinnaswamy is judged fit for September remains the larger question. Police clearance, improved entry-exit routes and a detailed crowd-control plan are non-negotiable. KSCA officials insist upgrades are in progress, though specifics are thin. A senior board member conceded, “We can’t afford another misstep, but we’re confident common sense will prevail.”
For now, players shift focus to Mysuru and the start of Karnataka’s domestic showpiece. The cricket, rather than the bureaucracy, would be a welcome talking point.
