IPL: After RCB, Rajasthan Royals are now eyeing Pune as their new home | Cricket News

JAIPUR: Unhappy with the facilities and arrangements at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur-based IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals is actively exploring alternative venues and appears set to shift its home base to Pune, at least for the 2026 season. While the Royals management has remained tight-lipped, Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Kamlesh Pisal confirmed to TOI that the franchise has expressed keen interest in hosting the majority of its home matches at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje.As reported by TOI on November 12, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) officials had also expressed interest in adopting Pune as their temporary home venue due to the ongoing restrictions at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, there was no further communication from RCB as the Royals progressed significantly.“Royals officials were here on November 18 and they did the reconnaissance. We also showed them our willingness as RCB is yet to confirm. RCB showed their willingness but Royals took a step forward by coming to Pune and inspecting the stadium and things around logistics. Now it is up to BCCI to approve the venue. The ball is in BCCI’s court,” Pisal said.The MCA secretary also indicated that the association with the Royals could extend well beyond a single season.“Not just in 2026, we could welcome them even after that,” he added.During the recently concluded Women’s ODI World Cup, the Royals management had also visited the Holkar Stadium in Indore.“Two Royals officials came here to take a look at the stadium and they inquired about stadium capacity and hospitality, but we don’t know exactly what their goal was. We didn’t hear anything from them after that,” said Rohit Pandit, chief administrative officer of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad hoc committee in-charge Deendayal Kumawat remains hopeful that the Royals’ home matches will continue to be played in Jaipur. He said he met franchise vice-president Rajeev Khanna and also wrote to IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin assuring them of “good facilities”.“RCA, in coordination with the state government, will ensure that the Royals do not face any issues related to ground, security or passes. I have offered to host matches at SMS Stadium and Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur,” Kumawat added.