RCB, Rajasthan Royals Target Pune for IPL 2026 Home Matches; BCCI to Make the Final Call
The Maharashtra Cricket Association has officially confirmed that the RCB and RR have shown interest to make Pune their new home ground for IPL 2026. The reports had said that the development comes after earlier claims that officials from both RR and RCB had visited the MCA International Stadium in Pune’s Gahunje to check the stadium. It is more likely that RR get their home games in Pune in IPL 2026, as RCB have been given a green light to host games at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.
MCA Confirms RCB & Rajasthan Royals’ Interest in Pune, BCCI Decision Awaited
Maharashtra Cricket Association took to the Twitter social media platform to announce a statement in which it acknowledged that RCB and RR had visited the MCA International stadium in Pune a couple of weeks ago, and MCA thanked them for showing interest. The association pinned hopes that the BCCI to permit the venue as the home ground for one of the teams in the future.
We thank Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals for visiting MCA International Stadium, Gahunje, Pune, a few weeks ago. Their visit highlights the stadium’s readiness to host top-tier cricket.
— Maharashtra Cricket Association (@MahaCricket) January 4, 2026
With BCCI’s continued support to the Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are… pic.twitter.com/v2lhve5uyT
“Considering the BCCI’s support for the Maharashtra Cricket Association, we are sure that the BCCI will approve the MCA International Stadium as a venue for upcoming fixtures of one of these teams in the near future. With BCCI’s support, IPL matches can soon be hosted in Pune – bringing high-profile clashes, world-class players, and the electrifying IPL spectacle to fans in the city,” the MCA statement read.
On Jan 2, there were reports that Pune was all set to be the new home for RR, as the Rajasthan outfit wanted to shift out of Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This comes as Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur could not meet the new guidelines regarding evacuation.
The cricket stadium was also holding advanced talks with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earlier this year. But in December, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the holding of matches at the M Chinnaswamy cricket stadium. It was made a requirement to implement the guidelines regarding the norms of safety and security recommended by the Justice Cunha Commission to the letter.
