Rajasthan Royals mull over new home venue ahead of IPL 2026

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are expected to relocate to another state for the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2026, as the indications suggest a shift, even though the final decision is yet to be made. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must have the final say, while the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) would also need to confirm the decision to host the franchise.

However, the fresh reports have confirmed that the 2008 champions of the event have been exploring the various options for the new base, with the search reaching Gahunje. If the ground, which is located near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, gets the green signal, then the Royals will play at least four games in the city, with the remaining three games at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

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“Yes, they were here to find out details about the capacity of the stadium, the nature of the pitches, and hotels in the city. Our president, Mr. Rohit Pawar, is very keen that the IPL returns to the city. He is making all possible efforts.” The MCA official revealed, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Rajasthan Royals consider Pune as new home base for IPL 2026

The MCA stadium hasn’t hosted the IPL in the last three seasons of the game. An IPL game was played at the venue in 2022 when the event was played only in three grounds across Mumbai and Pune, apart from the playoffs being held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In other news, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could also consider this ground as their possible home venue. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru isn’t anticipated to host the game of the IPL due to the stampede case on June 04 this year in celebration of the franchise’s maiden IPL trophy.

At this stage, the MCA seems to be inclined towards the Rajasthan Royals, but as the officials revealed, they won’t want to count their chickens before they hatch. But surely, one of the franchises could host the games for the new edition.