The defending champions of the IPL 2025 edition, RCB, will not be able to host their games further at their home stadium Chinnaswamy Stadium, as the stadium was declared unsafe following a stampede incident at the victory ceremony held after RCB’s maiden title win.
Royal Challengers Bangalore won the last season of the IPL, as it was their first win in the history of the IPL. Virat Kohli will return to India to play another season in the IPL, as it will be his 19th season with the same franchise.
RCB will not be able to host matches in Chinnaswamy
After the win, Royal Challengers Bangalore were seen celebrating their first title in IPL history with a massive rally which was attended by lakhs of RCB fans from all corners of India. The crowd was so huge that Bengaluru fans started stamping on each other.
As a result, Chinnaswamy was ruled out as an operational home ground, and the tournament’s domestic league matches under KSCA were disbanded. Additionally, KSCA considered Chinnaswamy Stadium as a possible venue for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.
Therefore, it can be cited that since IPL games cannot be played in closed-door conditions, Royal Challengers Bangalore have been deprived of their home ground, and it is likely to be shifted to a venue outside Karnataka.
Pune to host Royal Challengers Bangalore’s home matches
The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune has been considered as an ideal ground and has also offered to host the home matches of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for the entire season.
The venue previously served as the home venue for Chennai Super Kings, who used it for half a season in 2018.
Other possible venues like Trivandrum and even Vizag can also be considered for the same purpose: shifting the domestic games out of the state of Karnataka.
Rohit Juglan further said that Royal Challengers Bangalore will get fandom and tickets will be sold in any part of the country.
Pune offers to host RCB home matches amid suspension of M Chinnaswamy Stadium pic.twitter.com/YXrTTi45yv
– RCBIAN Official (@RcbianOfficial) 12 November 2025
Royal Challengers Bangalore to retain key players ahead of mini-auction
Royal Challengers Bangalore will retain their key players after winning last season. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli are likely to be retained by the challengers ahead of the mini-auction.
On the other hand, they will also retain all-rounder Krunal Pandya and infield batsman Tim David, who was seen hitting the ball, and Jitesh Sharma will also be retained as the vice-captain of the team.
They are also likely to retain their bowling corps in the form of Josh Hazlewood; However, the verdict on Yash Dayal will be awaited after he is declared guilty under the law. Captain Rajat Patidar is also likely to be retained.
Also read: Gujarat Titans retain 2 foreign players, KKR look for Cameron Green, LSG releases top foreign asset
