Bengaluru, March 3 (UNI) Recalling his celebrated five-wicket haul against England at Lord’s, Venkatesh Prasad on Tuesday said ensuring the return of Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Bengaluru for IPL 2026 was an even greater achievement for him.
“It’s a great achievement in just two and a half months for this managing committee of KSCA, and for me personally, it’s a huge achievement. Probably, much bigger than my five-wicket haul against England at Lord’s,” he told reporters here.
The President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) described the confirmation as one of the most awaited and pleasant announcements for cricket fans across the city and the state.
He said the newly elected managing committee, which assumed office barely two and a half months ago, had prioritised efforts to bring the defending IPL champions back to their traditional home base.
Defending Indian Premier League champions RCB later confirmed that five of their home matches in the IPL 2026 season will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, marking a full-fledged return to the venue closely associated with the franchise’s identity.
The remaining two home fixtures will be staged at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, in line with prior commitments.
The franchise said the development follows months of coordination with various authorities to facilitate the hosting of matches in the city.
It expressed gratitude to the Karnataka government, the KSCA and the Karnataka Police for their guidance and cooperation in ensuring the return of matches to Bengaluru, noting that infrastructure upgrades and enhanced safety measures were completed in time for the season.
RCB Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Menon said the Chinnaswamy Stadium represents more than just a venue for the team.
“It is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players,” he said.
“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Karnataka government, the KSCA and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon added.
The move reinforces RCB’s strong connect with its home supporters as the champions prepare to defend their title with the backing of the Bengaluru crowd in IPL 2026.
