BCCI, RCB in a solution while the Chinnaswamy stadium declared unfit for the big games before the Women’s World Cup, IPL 2026

The Justice John Michael Cunha Commission, probing the Bengaluru stampede that occurred on the day after RCB’s winning IPL 2025, has declared the M Chinnaswamy stadium unfit to host big events. The Karnataka Police, KSCA and the state government have been pointing fingers at each other for the mishap that killed 11 and injured several. The probe’s findings will come as a headache for the BCCI, with Bengaluru being one of the important venues for IPL 2026 and the Women’s ODI World Cup later this year.

No more matches at M Chinnaswamy sstadium?

As per ESPNCricinfo, the commission’s report claimed that the Chinnaswamy stadium’s “design and structure” are inherently “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings. It stated that hosting any mass events in the future would be an unacceptable risk to public safety. The Justice Cunha Commission has blamed RCB, DNA Entertainment and the KSCA for the stampede.

The Commission’s report means the BCCI will now be left in a fix over the possibility of having to shift out all planned matches. The Chinnaswamy stadium is supposed to host the Women’s ODI World Cup opener and the semi-final later in September. Besides, Karnataka has no other international venue apart from Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the Maharaja Trophy which is scheduled to be held from August, will be played behind closed doors, as per KSCA. As for RCB, it remains to be seen if they can retain Chinnaswamy as their home ground or will have to hunt for a new one. Even as the report has been submitted, RCB and the Karnataka government are at loggerheads in the court.

“The panel also recommended action against KSCA chief Raghuram Bhat, ex-secretary A Shankar, ex-treasurer ES Jairam – both of whom resigned citing “moral responsibility” in the aftermath of the incident – RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Entertainment Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan and VP Sunil Mathur,” the report stated.