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Pune could be RCB’s home ground in IPL 2026: Talks on, says Maharashtra Cricket Association

Kamlesh Pisal, honorary secretary of the MCA, said RCB will be able to confirm Pune as the home venue after the player auction.

RCB won its first IPL trophy in 2025 after an 18-year wait on June 3, by beating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad.RCB won its first IPL trophy in 2025 after an 18-year wait on June 3, by beating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad. (File Photo)

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune is in talks with Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to host its home matches in the upcoming season.

Bengaluru’s iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium has been embroiled in controversy after a stampede on June 4 that led to the deaths of 11 people during the victory celebration of RCB’s first-ever IPL win. The stadium was removed from the list of hosts for the recently concluded Women’s World Cup as well.

Kamlesh Pisal, honorary secretary of the MCA, told The Indian Express, “We are in discussions (with RCB) but they have not confirmed yet. They are looking into other venues, and we have been in discussions with them. But they will only be able to confirm after the (player) auction. A couple of technical things need to be sorted out. We are in discussion with (vice-president and head of RCB) Rajesh Menon.”

Pisal said the auction is expected to take place in December and the venue should be finalised by the second half of December. When asked if it was likely that Pune would get to host the matches, Pisal said, “Yes, because the most ideal location for them, after Bengaluru, is Pune. Airport, hotel accommodation logistics, capacity of the ground, fan base, if you count everything.”

One of the most popular teams in the league, RCB has featured Indian star Virat Kohli since the inaugural season. It won its first IPL trophy in 2025 after an 18-year wait on June 3, by beating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad.

The team announced on social media a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate its victory. However, the government refused permission due to security reasons. People crowded outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on the evening of June 4, which led to a stampede in which 11 people were killed and several others were injured.

Investigations by a judicial panel found that RCB, an event management firm, and the Bengaluru city police were accountable for the lapses that led to the stampede. A committee tasked by the state government found the Chinnaswamy Stadium “unsafe” for large-scale events and recommended relocating such events to venues better suited for managing significant crowds.

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More


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