IPL 2026: "Will make sure RCB plays at Chinnaswamy Stadium"- Venkatesh Prasad makes a massive promise if he becomes the KSCA president

Venkatesh Prasad is contesting for the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s presidential position.

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has filed his nomination for Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) presidential position. Prasad has said that if he becomes the KSCA president, he will make sure that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play their home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Notably, due to a deadly stampede on June 4 during RCB’s victory celebrations at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed over 10 people and injured over 50 others, the venue was deemed unfit for hosting mega events. The stadium was also denied permission to host ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which made the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to move the games to Navi Mumbai.

With the ban still in place, the stadium is highly unlikely to host RCB’s home games in IPL 2026. According to recent reports, RCB’s home games might be moved to the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium in Pune. The franchise is in talks with MCA over the matter and an official confirmation is awaited.

Venkatesh Prasad vows to bring cricket back to M Chinnaswamy Stadium

Prasad is the front-runner to become the next KSCA President, with former Indian bowlers Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath backing his candidature. Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination on November 13 (Thursday), Prasad said that he will make sure that RCB play their home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He also said that cricket’s revival in Karnataka will be his biggest priority.

“We are going to work extremely hard to make sure that the Bengaluru team (RCB) plays at Chinnaswamy Stadium in the upcoming IPL. We would also work to bring back glory to the Chinnaswamy (Stadium) that it has lost in the recent past,” Prasad was quoted as saying by ANI.

“We are here for a purpose and for a cause. Cricket’s revival is the main priority and making sure that our domestic structure gets back the way it used to be when Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath were heading the association. We have seen the decline in cricket since. The sport has taken a backseat. And now we want to revive that,” he added.

The KSCA elections will be held on November 30 and the candidates are eligible to file their nominations from November 12 to 16. Prasad has served as KSCA vice-president under the Kumble-led administration between 2010 and 2013.

Meanwhile, RCB are currently busy finalising their retention list ahead of IPL 2026 mini auction. The BCCI has set a deadline of November 15 for all IPL teams to submit their names of retained players.

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