Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana praised the influence of the team’s fast bowling coach Shaun Tait after delivering a match-winning performance against Pakistan in the first ODI of the series.

Rana produced an outstanding spell, claiming a five-wicket haul that helped Bangladesh secure an impressive eight-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. The win also marked Bangladesh’s first ODI victory over Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2018.

Post-Match Media Conference: Nahid Rana (Bangladesh)

1st ODI | Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh Pakistan ODI Series 2026

11 March 2026 | 2:15 PM (BST)

SBNCS, Dhaka#BCB #Cricket #Bangladesh #Pakistan #ODI pic.twitter.com/phJE9euVNP

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 11, 2026

The performance came in just Rana’s 17th international appearance for Bangladesh. After the match, the 23-year-old pacer highlighted the guidance and support he has received from former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait, who currently serves as Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach.

“To be honest, he (Tait) is an outstanding coach because he behaves with us not only as a coach but also as a friend,” Rana said, as quoted by ICC.

“Whenever we need something, he provides it. He always tells us to stick to our strengths and to let him know if we need anything. He says, ‘Whatever you need, just tell me. I am here to guide you. You will play on the field, I will give you the plan, and you have to execute it and win the match.’ So he always motivates us and gives us the best guidance,” the right-arm seamer added.

Rana also explained that he focuses more on developing his skills rather than simply bowling at high speeds, emphasizing that skill plays a bigger role than raw pace in international cricket.

“Honestly, I don’t think too much about speed. In international cricket, skill matters more than pure pace. So I am trying to work more on improving my skills,” Rana said.

The young pacer also acknowledged the advice he received from senior Bangladesh bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed during the match. According to Rana, their suggestions about bowling in the right areas proved crucial.

“In the beginning, Fizz Bhai (Mustafizur Rahman) and Taskin Bhai (Taskin Ahmed) were bowling. I was talking with them on the field about what was happening on the wicket. They told me that if you hit the right areas or maintain a proper line and length in certain spots, it becomes difficult for the batters to play. So I just tried to execute that on the field,” he said.

Rana also credited his familiarity with the venue for helping him deliver an effective spell.

“I have played many matches on this ground before, so I tried to use that experience, understanding which line and length work best here and how to get help from the wicket. For me, every wicket is special. I don’t think about cricket in terms of a wicket being good today and bad tomorrow. I believe that a bowler should understand the wicket first, whatever the condition is, and then bowl according to what the wicket demands.”

Bangladesh dominated the opening ODI, bowling Pakistan out for a modest total before chasing down the target comfortably.

Chasing 115 runs, Bangladesh reached the target in just 15.1 overs. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 67 runs from 42 balls, hitting seven fours and five sixes to guide the hosts to victory.

The win gave Mehidy Hasan Miraz-led Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

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Gujarat Titans have appointed former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya as Assistant Coach ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, further strengthening the franchise’s coaching staff. The announcement was made on Wednesday through an official press release.

Dahiya, a respected name in Indian cricket, represented India in 19 One Day Internationals and two Test matches during his playing career. He also had a successful domestic career with Delhi before moving into coaching roles after retirement.

As a coach, Dahiya has built a strong reputation in Indian cricket. He guided Delhi to the Ranji Trophy title during the 2007–08 season and has since worked with several domestic and IPL teams, gaining valuable experience in player development and team strategy.

His appointment comes shortly after Gujarat Titans added former Australia batting legend Matthew Hayden to their coaching staff as Batting Coach. With both additions, the franchise has significantly strengthened its coaching structure ahead of the new IPL season.

Since making their debut in the Indian Premier League in 2022, Gujarat Titans have quickly established themselves as one of the most consistent teams in the competition. The franchise won the IPL title in their inaugural season and has reached the playoffs in three of their first four seasons in the league.

With a strengthened coaching setup and a strong record in the tournament, Gujarat Titans will aim to continue their impressive performances as preparations for IPL 2026 move forward.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the schedule for the first phase of the IPL 2026 season. The first phase of the tournament will be played from March 28 to April 12.

The 19th edition of the league will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. During the opening phase, a total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

The tournament will feature four double-headers during this period. Afternoon matches will begin at 03:30 PM IST, while evening matches will start at 07:30 PM IST.

Following the opening match, Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday as the new IPL season gets underway.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, which will be played from March 28 to April 12. The announcement was made through an official release by the BCCI.

The 19th edition of the world’s biggest T20 league will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The opening phase of the tournament will feature 20 matches across 10 venues.

The venues for the first phase include Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

According to the BCCI, the full schedule of the tournament has not yet been announced because three Indian states will hold State Assembly elections during the same period. The remaining fixtures will be revealed once the election dates are officially confirmed.

During the first phase, the IPL will include four double-headers. Afternoon matches will begin at 03:30 PM IST, while evening matches will start at 07:30 PM IST.

Following the opening game on March 28, Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the second match of the season at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

The first double-header of the IPL 2026 season will take place on April 4. In the afternoon match, Delhi Capitals will play against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Later in the evening, Gujarat Titans will face Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rajasthan Royals will start their home campaign in Guwahati, where they are scheduled to host Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in the early part of the tournament. Punjab Kings will play their initial home matches at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

The BCCI also confirmed the home venue distribution for some franchises during the season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and two matches in Raipur. Punjab Kings will host four games in New Chandigarh and three matches in Dharamshala. Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati before hosting four matches in Jaipur later in the tournament.

However, matches scheduled in Bengaluru are subject to final approval from the Expert Committee formed by the Government of Karnataka. The committee will inspect the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13 and conduct a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements to assess the venue’s readiness to host IPL fixtures.

The inspection follows the suspension of cricket activities at the stadium after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebration, which resulted in several casualties and injuries.

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India captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed immense pride after leading the team to a historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory, saying it felt special to win consecutive titles. India defeated New Zealand by a dominant 96-run margin in the final to successfully defend the title they had won in 2024.

The triumph marked India’s third T20 World Cup title, adding to their earlier victories in 2007 and 2024, and made them the first team to lift the trophy three times.

Reflecting on the achievement, Yadav said, “It feels great, winning in back-to-back.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the ICC, the Indian skipper explained that the team had prepared thoroughly for the tournament, especially since it was held in India.

“We knew that this tournament was going to happen in India, so our preparations were spot on. We understood how the conditions will be, what we needed to do, how we wanted to play. I think care is the right word, which I felt seeped into this team slowly when the tournament started, thinking about each other, what the team requires at a given point. This was the mantra for this year’s edition,” Yadav said.

Suryakumar himself scored 242 runs during the tournament but stressed that the team focused on collective success rather than personal achievements.

“Not think about personal milestones, just think about what the team wants at that moment and play as per that,” he said.

India had a strong start to the tournament, finishing the group stage at the top of Group A with an unbeaten record. However, they faced a setback during the Super Eight stage when South Africa defeated them by 76 runs.

Despite that defeat, India bounced back strongly. They beat West Indies in a crucial knockout-style match, then defeated England in the semi-final before overcoming New Zealand in the final.

Reflecting on the team’s journey through the competition, Yadav admitted that the campaign was challenging and filled with pressure.

“We had a little bit of a roller coaster ride since game one. No one made it easy (for us). We knew that it was going to be difficult as you play at home. The pressure is more in front of your home crowd. Playing in India, there was a lot of responsibility. Yes, everyone was excited for the tournament, but yeah, at the same time, it was a lot of pressure as well,” Yadav reflected.

The captain also praised the team’s supportive environment, highlighting how senior players helped teammates regain confidence during difficult moments.

“You need to put, put your arm around their shoulders. Understand what’s going on in their mind and share your experience. Let them be free. Things did not go Abhishek’s way at first. Still, he went out and did things his way,” Yadav said.

Abhishek Sharma had struggled earlier in the tournament but delivered a match-defining performance in the final with a crucial half-century.

Yadav also spoke about Ishan Kishan’s impressive return to international cricket after a two-year absence. Kishan scored 317 runs in nine matches during the tournament.

“Before the tournament, I still remember when we were picking the team. I had a call with him, and I told him, ‘Will you win the World Cup for me?’ He said, just show a little bit of trust, and I’ll do it. And he didn’t disappoint. In the last two years, he has missed out on a lot of international cricket, but then he went back to domestic cricket, played his part, did those hard yards, came back again into the Indian side, and did the best what he’s known to do,” Yadav said.

Sanju Samson also delivered a remarkable tournament, scoring 321 runs — the highest by an Indian player in a single T20 World Cup edition. His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

“And Sanju Samson, I think he’s ice,” Yadav said. “He’s always been the best man to have around, and the moment he got an opportunity, I feel he did the best what the team wanted. I think it’s good to have him like an elder brother in the side to keep everything calm.”

India’s success was also built on their powerful bowling attack. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah produced decisive performances throughout the tournament. He turned the semi-final against England in India’s favour with a crucial spell in the 18th over and later took 4/15 in the final to earn the Player of the Match award.

Yadav praised his lead pacer for consistently delivering when the team needed him.

“A bowler had not won a Man of the Match in this tournament for India, and that was a perfect occasion, perfect game. Robot, national treasure, Jasprit Bumrah, raising his hand, doing it for the team time and again. (In the final) As soon as we scored 250, 256, we always knew that we had a little bit of upper hand with our bowling unit because I take a lot of pride in my bowling department. I know on a given day they can defend any total for me,” he said.

Looking ahead, Yadav has already set his sights on future milestones, including cricket’s return to the Olympics in 2028 at the Los Angeles Games and the next T20 World Cup.

“One was definitely to win a T20 World Cup. We won it in 2024, wanted to win it as leader, won it in 2026. And also, why not Olympics, cricket at the 2028 Olympics, it’s going to be a special, special entry. All eyes on the 2028 Olympics and also the T20 World Cup later on,” he concluded.

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Former India captain Anil Kumble has said that Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings stand almost equal when it comes to being the greatest teams in the history of the Indian Premier League.

Speaking on JioStar, Kumble explained that both franchises have achieved remarkable success in different ways, making it difficult to separate them when discussing the most dominant teams in the tournament’s history. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are currently the most successful franchises in the IPL, with both teams having won five titles each.

“MI is very close to, or almost the same as CSK when you talk about the greatest team in the IPL, because you can’t really distinguish one from the other. CSK has always been consistent with their selections. They go for people who have been there and done that. Only last year did we see a few youngsters come through,” Anil Kumble said.

Kumble pointed out that Chennai Super Kings have built their success around consistency and experienced players. According to him, the franchise has traditionally preferred players with proven track records and has maintained stability in team selection over the years.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have followed a different strategy by focusing on discovering and developing young talent, many of whom later became major stars in international cricket.

“Whereas MI has gone slightly out and looked at players whom nobody had seen before, some who had done well at the domestic level. So people like Hardik, Krunal and Jasprit all came through those ranks. And then we saw what happened. Recently, you had the likes of Nehal Wadhera, who has now moved to PBKS, but performed really well for MI,” he added.

Kumble also spoke about Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic IPL 2025 title victory. He noted that while Virat Kohli played a key role in the team’s success, the bowling unit was equally important in helping RCB lift their first-ever IPL trophy.

During the 2025 season, Kohli was the leading run-scorer for RCB, accumulating 657 runs in 15 matches. However, Kumble highlighted that the team’s bowling attack delivered crucial performances throughout the tournament.

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was particularly impressive, claiming 22 wickets in 12 matches at an outstanding average of 17.55. Krunal Pandya also played a major role with the ball, finishing the season with 17 wickets.

According to Kumble, the bowling unit including Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma played a decisive role in RCB’s title-winning campaign.

“Virat plays a major part in RCB’s success. But if you look at last year, whenever RCB were successful, their bowling unit also came to the fore. I feel Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar certainly contributed a lot. The two spinners, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, were also a surprise package. The bowling unit performed exceptionally well for them to win the trophy. So, I think the fans will certainly throng the Chinnaswamy Stadium to watch Virat Kohli. But I’m sure the fans will also be proud that they have a really strong bowling unit that can defend,” Anil Kumble said on JioStar.

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Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has confirmed that the board still plans to include a pink-ball Test during the 2029-30 men’s Ashes series, despite recent speculation suggesting the day-night format could be dropped. His remarks came as discussions around the future structure of the Ashes gained attention in recent weeks.

Speaking about the issue, Greenberg clarified that there has been no formal request from England to remove the pink-ball Test from the upcoming Ashes series scheduled for 2029-30. The day-night format has become an established part of Australia’s summer schedule and continues to attract strong interest from broadcasters and fans.

“They haven’t requested it [to be dropped]. Pleasingly, we don’t play them here until 2029, so I’ve got a little bit of time to work this one out. It’s a part of our broadcast contracts. It’s clearly a big part of our summer [and] it clearly works here in this country,” Todd Greenberg, the CA CEO, told SEN radio.

Day-night Tests have been particularly successful in Australia, with Adelaide and Brisbane regularly hosting pink-ball matches. In the most recent Ashes series, the day-night Test was played in Brisbane, where Australia secured an eight-wicket victory over England.

England have struggled in pink-ball Tests in Australian conditions. The team has played four day-night Tests in Australia and has lost all of them by large margins.

Ahead of the Brisbane Test in the previous Ashes series, England star Joe Root had questioned whether a pink-ball match was necessary in an Ashes contest.

“I don’t think you need it in Ashes series. Absolutely not I don’t mind [pink-ball cricket]. I mean, I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule: we’ve got to play it, and just got to make sure we’re better than them at it… It’s clearly something that works here for Australia, and they enjoy it,” Root had said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Greenberg emphasized that the pink-ball format has been a major success for Cricket Australia and remains an important element of the country’s summer Test calendar. He also indicated that Cricket Australia would be willing to help England prepare better for day-night conditions if required.

“We’ve shown it works in Adelaide. It certainly worked last year in Brisbane. It’s our plan to continue at least one of those in a summer. If we need to work with our comrades at the ECB to help them prepare better or have practice matches, we’ll do all those sort of things. We’ll have that dialogue if and when needed,” he added.

When asked directly whether England should expect to play a pink-ball Test during their next Ashes tour of Australia, Greenberg made the board’s stance clear.

“That’s certainly our expectation, yes.”

Cricket Australia’s current broadcast agreement, which runs until 2031, includes a requirement to host at least one day-night Test each season. These matches have proven highly successful in terms of television viewership and attendance, making them a key part of Australia’s cricket schedule.

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The International Cricket Council has officially confirmed the final prize money distribution for all teams following the successful conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. According to details published on the ICC website, the tournament featured a total prize money pool of USD 11.25 million, continuing the record increase introduced by the governing body in 2024.

India, who emerged as champions of the tournament, will receive the largest share of the prize money, while runners-up New Zealand and the other top-performing teams will also take home significant rewards based on their final standings and performance throughout the competition.

The prize money allocation includes earnings from the group stage, Super 8s, semi-finals and final, along with participation payments and bonuses for victories during the tournament.

Prize Money Distribution – ICC T20 World Cup 2026

According to the ICC, the amounts listed represent the gross prize money earned by teams across different stages of the competition before any tax compliance or deductions. Each participating team received a base participation payment of USD 225,000, with additional rewards added depending on match victories, progression through tournament stages and final rankings.

The 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup concluded with India defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final on Sunday. The victory marked a historic moment for Indian cricket as the team successfully defended their T20 World Cup title.

With the triumph, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil. The win also made them the first side to claim back-to-back titles after their previous victory in the 2024 tournament.

India also became the most successful team in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, lifting the trophy for a record third time after earlier triumphs in 2007, 2024 and now 2026.

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With the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League set to begin on March 28, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has suggested that Chennai Super Kings should promote Mahendra Singh Dhoni higher in the batting order to maximize his impact in the tournament.

Speaking on JioStar, Pujara shared his views on Dhoni’s batting position, pointing out that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has been batting at number seven or even lower during the past few IPL seasons.

“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at Number 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said.

Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful franchises in IPL history with five titles, will be aiming to secure a record sixth championship in the upcoming season.

However, the team has experienced mixed results in recent years. CSK finished fifth in the 2024 edition and ended at the bottom of the points table in the previous season.

Pujara, who was part of the CSK squad during their title-winning campaign in 2021, also spoke about the team culture within the franchise. According to him, the Chennai setup is known for its supportive environment and long-term backing of players.

“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player,” Pujara said.

He also highlighted the franchise’s tradition of showing loyalty to its players, noting that many cricketers have remained with the team for several seasons.

“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, once a player is part of that setup, he stays there for a long time. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” he added.

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India’s left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma has retained the top position in the latest ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings following his match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 final. The updated rankings were released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday.

The rankings update comes after India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final held in Ahmedabad on March 8. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India secured back-to-back T20 World Cup titles and became the first team in history to win three ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophies since the tournament began.

Abhishek Sharma played a decisive role in the final after a difficult start to the tournament. The young batter had struggled in the early matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, recording three consecutive ducks.

However, he bounced back in spectacular fashion during the final. Sharma smashed a rapid 52 runs off just 21 balls, striking six boundaries and three sixes to give India a strong start after the team was put in to bat first. His aggressive innings proved crucial in setting the tone for India’s dominant performance.

Following his blistering half-century in the final, Sharma retained the No.1 ranking in T20I batting with 875 rating points.

India’s Ishan Kishan has now emerged as Sharma’s closest challenger in the rankings. Kishan moved up two places to claim the second position after scoring 317 runs during the T20 World Cup campaign. The wicketkeeper-batter also achieved a new career-high rating following his consistent performances in the tournament.

New Zealand’s Tim Seifert also made significant progress in the rankings, climbing four places to sixth position after delivering several strong performances during the World Cup. England’s Jacob Bethell registered one of the biggest jumps, moving up 17 places to reach 16th position after an impressive showing in the tournament.

There were also notable changes in the ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings. Afghanistan star Rashid Khan reclaimed the top spot, overtaking India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. Rashid now leads the rankings with 753 rating points, while Chakaravarthy sits in second place with 740 points despite picking up 14 wickets during the T20 World Cup.

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid improved his position by moving up one spot to fourth place. Meanwhile, India’s Jasprit Bumrah climbed one place to sixth, and Axar Patel made a strong leap of six positions to reach 17th after their performances during the tournament.

The race for the top position in the T20I all-rounders rankings remains closely contested. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza continues to hold the number one spot, while India’s Hardik Pandya occupies second place. Both players achieved new career-high rating points in the latest update.

New Zealand’s captain also registered a career-best rating after moving up three places to ninth position in the T20I all-rounder rankings. England’s Will Jacks climbed five spots to 13th following his impressive performances during the T20 World Cup.

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Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has begun preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, with videos of the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain training in the nets going viral across social media platforms.

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Kohli shared a reel on Instagram showing glimpses of his intense training session as he focuses on batting ahead of the new IPL season. The clip quickly gained attention among fans, who filled the comment section with excitement as anticipation builds for the tournament.

The right-handed batter remains one of the most successful players in IPL history. Kohli has scored 8,661 runs in 267 matches and 259 innings in the tournament, maintaining an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85. Over the years, he has registered eight centuries and 63 half-centuries, making him one of the most consistent performers in the league.

Kohli also enjoyed an outstanding season in the 2025 edition of the IPL. The veteran batter scored 657 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.75, playing a crucial role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure their first-ever IPL title. During the season, he struck eight half-centuries and maintained an impressive strike rate of 144.71.

The previous season ended with a historic victory for the Bengaluru franchise, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the final held in Ahmedabad to lift their maiden IPL trophy.

Meanwhile, broadcaster Star Sports confirmed on March 8 that the IPL 2026 season will officially begin on March 28. However, the full schedule for the tournament has not yet been released by the IPL authorities.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the upcoming season as defending champions. The team will once again rely on Kohli’s experience and batting strength as they aim to retain the title.

Earlier this month, Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Santosh Menon confirmed that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five of RCB’s home matches during the IPL 2026 season. The iconic venue will also stage the final of the tournament along with one of the playoff matches.

However, not all of RCB’s home games will take place in Bengaluru. The franchise will play two of its home matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Cricket activities at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June last year following a tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebration. The incident resulted in the deaths of 11 people while several others were injured.

Due to the suspension, the stadium missed out on hosting matches during the ICC Women’s World Cup and also did not receive any fixtures for the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup. Domestic and state franchise tournaments were also affected by the restrictions placed on the venue.

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