Exclusive: Why no RCB at DY Patil? Exhaust other options first, says MI

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s search for a temporary home ground for the 2026 Indian Premier League season has hit an early roadblock after Mumbai Indians formally objected to the franchise’s interest in using DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, as an alternate venue.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told this publication that MI have told RCB to “exhaust other options” before approaching the 55,000-capacity ground that sits barely 25 km from the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians’ established base. The logic, insiders say, is rooted in the IPL’s unwritten territorial protocol: any franchise wishing to stage home fixtures inside the catchment area of another franchise must first secure that franchise’s consent.

“Wankhede and DY Patil are not far apart. If a franchise wants to set up a base at DY Patil, it cannot happen without approval from the one operating out of Wankhede,” a source explained. “MI’s stance is simple—why only DY Patil and not any other stadium in the country? There are plenty.”

The five-time champions fear that allowing RCB to encroach on what they consider their territory would set a precedent that could later see other teams lobbying to play at venues such as the Brabourne Stadium, another Mumbai property. “It kills the sanctity of home territories,” the source added, stressing that the league would need “strong reasoning” why Bengaluru is bypassing established non-IPL centres like Rajkot, Pune, Raipur, Visakhapatnam and Indore.

With DY Patil now off the table, RCB have intensified talks elsewhere. The franchise has already held detailed discussions with the Chhattisgarh government about hosting at least two home matches in Raipur, while Indore has re-entered the conversation for the remaining five fixtures. “There were discussions when DY Patil was in the race too, but now that it is no longer there, Indore is back in the mix,” the source confirmed.

The urgency is palpable. Since the June 4 stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the ground has remained out of commission. The Karnataka State Cricket Association has begun implementing 17 safety upgrades recommended by the Justice D’Cunha committee, but work is still under way. On Monday, RCB officials—led by COO Rajesh Menon and KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad—met Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara to review progress. While Prasad sounded optimistic, the franchise continues to hedge its bets.

A decisive government inspection is scheduled for Wednesday, when senior police and administrative officials will assess compliance with the committee’s directives. “We need the CM’s approval,” Parameshwara said, underscoring that any final call on Chinnaswamy’s availability must be relayed to the IPL Governing Council and the BCCI without delay so the 2026 fixture list can be ratified.

Until then, RCB’s home for the upcoming season remains officially up in the air, and Mumbai Indians’ firm “no” to DY Patil has ensured the scramble for an alternative venue has become more crowded—and more political—than ever.