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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has confirmed that the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur will host two IPL matches in 2026. These games will be played as part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home fixtures, with the defending champions using Raipur as a temporary venue.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 13, the Chief Minister said that discussions were held with RCB CEO Rajesh Menon, who met him earlier in the day. He announced that an agreement has been reached to host two IPL matches in Raipur.
“We spoke to the RCB CEO (Rajesh Menon) today. He came to meet us. We have decided that two IPL matches will happen here," Vishu Deo Sai said in a public announcement.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai for Bengaluru matches
Later, CM Vishnu Deo Sai shared details of the meeting on social media, saying he had met BCCI Joint Secretary Prabhtej Singh Bhatia and RCB Vice President Rajesh Menon. During the meeting, he was presented with an RCB jersey, and both sides spoke in detail about the arrangements and possibilities for hosting upcoming IPL games at the Raipur stadium.
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“Today, a courtesy meeting was held with the Joint Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mr. Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, and the Vice President of the IPL 2025 champion team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mr. Rajesh Menon. On this occasion, an RCB team jersey was presented, and detailed discussions were held regarding the possibilities and necessary arrangements for organising upcoming IPL matches," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
RCB officials have already visited the venue and held talks with the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association. With the Chief Minister’s approval now in place, preparations for the matches are expected to move ahead quickly.
When did Raipur last host an IPL match?
Raipur last hosted an IPL match back in 2013, when Delhi Capitals played Kolkata Knight Riders. Since then, fans in Chhattisgarh have been waiting for the tournament to return, making the 2026 matches a big moment for cricket in the state.
RCB's venue for the remaining five home matches
According to other reports, RCB are likely to play their remaining five home matches at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. If this plan goes ahead, it would come as a disappointment for the team’s supporters in Bengaluru.
Why is Chinnaswamy not hosting IPL matches?
The franchise’s regular home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, was declared unsafe for large crowds by an independent commission last year after a stampede during RCB’s victory parade claimed 11 lives. As a result, the venue also missed out on hosting matches in the 2025 Women’s World Cup and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
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