Expert committee

Karnataka State Cricket Association: The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will return to their home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received official permission from the Government of Karnataka to host the matches.

KSCA made the official announcement of permission on Monday after the meeting between KSCA officials, the state home minister, and the expert committee that inspected and reviewed the safety measures at the venue on March 13.

"We are pleased to inform that a meeting was held earlier today at Vidhana Soudha under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Home Minister of Karnataka, Dr. G. Parameshwar, with the Expert Committee and representatives of KSCA, RCB and DNA. During the meeting, the Expert Committee presented its report outlining the preparedness and compliance measures undertaken at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium," the KSCA stated in a media release.