Kolkata : Good news for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Saturday confirmed that it had been granted permission from the State government’s Home Department to conduct IPL and International Cricket matches at the iconic venue, known for it’s good Batting wickets and modern drainage facilities.
The association has already submitted a comprehensive compliance roadmap to the Expert Review Committee, demonstrating its commitment to upholding all necessary safety, security, and crowd management protocols.
Vinay Mruthyunjaya, the official spokesperson for KSCA, confirmed that the association is dedicated to implementing all prescribed measures in both letter and spirit.
“We are pleased to announce that the Home Department, Government of Karnataka, has granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host international and IPL matches at the iconic venue. The permission is subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authorities,” the association said in a statement.
Any Cricket matches in that venue were stopped since June 2025 due to unfortunate 11 deaths due to stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 trophy celebrations. The incident raised serious questions about crowd control, emergency response and overall safety preparedness at one of India’s busiest cricket venues.
The Ground was also barred to host domestic matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, which were moved to BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. It is also excluded to host ICC T20 WC 2026 Matches.
The Women’s World Cup matches, including the final was shifted to a different venue and RCB were in a hunt to finalise Navi Mumbai and Raipur as their two venues for the IPL 2026.
Hosting matches at the ground was subject to the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, formulated as part of the investigation into the tragedy.
In the meantime, KSCA president Prasad was determined to bring IPL back to the state and held several meetings with government officials to make it happen. Only two days ago, RCB announced the installation of AI-based cameras at the stadium to regulate fan movement, which boosted the chance of getting the clearance.
With the clearance in place, RCB is set to play its home matches at the centrally located Chinnaswamy Stadium in the upcoming season. However, officials have underlined that the permission comes with strict conditions aimed at preventing a repeat of past failures.
RCB propose AI based cameras at Chinnaswamy Stadium
Desperate to ensure that IPL matches are not taken away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise has proposed the installation of 300-350 AI-enabled cameras at the venue and offered to bear the estimated cost of ` 4.50 crore for this crowd management initiative.
RCB has made the proposal in an official communication to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). “RCB has proposed the installation of 300 to 350 AI-enabled cameras at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB has further committed to bearing the entire one-time cost of this initiative, estimated at approximately `4.5 crore,” the franchise said in a release.
“The advanced surveillance technology will empower the KSCA and law enforcement agencies to efficiently manage crowd movement, ensure disciplined queueing, monitor unauthorised access through real-time tracking of entries and exits, and significantly enhance overall fan safety,” the franchise added.
For its latest proposal, the franchise said it has partnered with Staqu, a company, which it said has a proven track record in enhancing public safety through automation and data-driven intelligence. Staqu has listed Bihar Police and the Election Commission of India as its clients on its official website. The success stories that the company has posted include a past collaboration with Uttar Pradesh
Prison and Administrative Reform Services to centralise the video feeds from over 3000 CCTV cameras in more than 60 jails at a command centre for review of security breaches, violence, overcrowding and unauthorised access. “The state-of-the-art facial recognition technology and intelligent monitoring of objects, crowd, perimeters and vehicles has assisted many State Police forces in their regular monitoring and investigations,” said RCB.
“The integration of this advanced technology will elevate crowd management standards and reinforce a safe, secure and seamless matchday experience for all fans,” the team asserted. The AI-driven real-time camera system relies on video, audio and text data, enabling match-day security forces to detect unauthorised access and intrusion to take preventive measures well in advance.
