Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has assured fans that all of RCB’s matches for IPL 2026 will remain in the state. This comes in light of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that occurred after the franchise celebrated its first trophy victory, resulting in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries earlier this June. Following this incident, a commission labeled the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as unsafe for large events, leading to the relocation of Women’s World Cup matches and T20 World Cup 2026 games. Will RCB Continue Playing Home Matches in Bengaluru? According to India Today, Shivakumar emphasized that such unfortunate events like the Bengaluru stampede after RCB’s IPL 2025 win will not be repeated. He expressed a commitment to hosting events at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in a manner that honors Bengaluru's pride. “In the future, whatever mishaps happened in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, we will make sure such incidents do not recur. Going forward, we will conduct events in this KSCA stadium in a way that upholds the pride of Bengaluru. But we will do it properly, within the legal framework, and with better attention to crowd management while using this stadium,” said DK Shivakumar. Read also: Top 5 sledging moments in the Ashes series history He firmly stated that no IPL games will be moved out of the state. This statement comes after rumors surfaced that RCB was considering Pune as a potential venue for their home games, following the Justice Cunha Commission's findings that deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium unsuitable for major events due to safety concerns. “Along with this, we will also develop an alternative stadium, a large one. After the incidents that happened last year and the issues that followed, there were talks of shifting the IPL elsewhere. But from now on, no IPL will be shifted; we will conduct it right here. This is the pride of Karnataka and Bengaluru, and we will protect it. Whatever needs to be done, we will ensure it is taken care of going forward,” he added. In his reassurances, Shivakumar aims to calm any fears regarding RCB’s IPL 2026 matches, despite the recent safety issues at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He is determined to ensure that such incidents are not repeated and that future matches will be organized with heightened care and responsibility. Additionally, he dismissed any speculation about RCB looking to Pune as an alternative, confirming that all IPL games will indeed take place in Karnataka.