The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium took a decisive turn as the state Cabinet authorised the Home Department to take the final call on hosting matches—but only after every safety and structural requirement recommended by the D’Cunha Commission is fully implemented. According to government sources, no cricketing event will be cleared until the “Kunha report recommendations are fulfilled,” underlining the seriousness of the situation.
The commission’s July findings, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, highlighted that the 1974-built venue lacks essential modern safety features required for large-scale events. This development comes months after the judicial inquiry declared the stadium “fundamentally unsafe” following the tragic June 4 stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives.
The report found the stadium’s outdated design, restricted access points, and inadequate infrastructure created “unacceptable risks” in terms of crowd movement, emergency response, and traffic management. The Cabinet’s position also reflects growing public pressure. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently assured fans that IPL matches from the 2026 season would not be moved out of Bengaluru.
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Speaking after casting his vote in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections, he said, “I won’t allow shifting of IPL matches from here; we will ensure they are held here.”
The Karnataka Cabinet has given in-principle approval for cricket matches to be held at Chinnaswamy Stadium. @sagayrajp with more details#Karnataka #ChinnaswamyStadium #ITVideo @snehamordani pic.twitter.com/A8yBgLjSYF
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) December 12, 2025
Calling it a matter of Karnataka’s pride, Shivakumar reiterated that the government is committed to preventing such tragedies in the future and hinted at plans for an alternative world-class stadium in the long term. Meanwhile, newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad wasted no time in addressing the crisis.
On Wednesday, Prasad and his team met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Deputy CM in Belagavi to discuss a roadmap for returning top-tier cricket to Chinnaswamy. He confirmed that discussions with senior BCCI officials have already begun, signalling a unified push to restore the stadium’s status as a premier venue.
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Since the stampede, the iconic ground has lost hosting rights for several major events. The Women’s World Cup matches scheduled in Bengaluru were moved out at the last moment, denying local fans the chance to witness India’s historic title win in Navi Mumbai. The stadium has also been excluded from the five Indian venues selected to host the men’s T20 World Cup next year. Chennai remains the only South Indian venue chosen, alongside Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Ahmedabad, with Sri Lanka hosting three additional venues.
