IPL 2026 Set to Return to Pune: Rajasthan Royals Likely to Make Gahunje Stadium Their Home
IPL 2026 Set to Return to Pune: Rajasthan Royals Likely to Make Gahunje Stadium Their Home
Cricket fans in Pune are in for a treat as the Indian Premier League (IPL) prepares for a comeback in the city. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje is expected to host matches for IPL 2026, with one of the franchises, the Rajasthan Royals (RR), likely to make it their new home ground. This marks a significant return of top-tier cricket to Pune after several years.
The move comes after Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the traditional home base for the Royals since the inception of the IPL in 2008, failed to meet necessary security regulations. While some of the Royals’ home matches will continue to be played at their alternate venue in Guwahati, a majority of the fixtures are expected to be held in Pune, giving local fans a chance to watch the team live.
The MCA Stadium has a proven history of hosting high-profile matches. Over the years, it has served as a home ground for multiple IPL franchises, including Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, Chennai Super Kings, and Punjab Kings. Chennai Super Kings famously played here in 2018, going on to clinch the title that season. The stadium has also hosted men’s international matches in all formats, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, as well as the Women’s T20 Challenge, underlining its reputation as a world-class venue.
Earlier discussions had also considered the possibility of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) using Pune as a home venue. Talks between MCA and RCB, however, could not be finalized, partly due to security concerns and administrative hurdles in Karnataka, including restrictions imposed on the organization of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. This ultimately cleared the path for Rajasthan Royals to make Pune their base.
The Royals’ shift away from Jaipur is not just logistical. The franchise has faced ongoing disagreements with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which escalated during IPL 2025 after allegations of match-fixing were leveled against the team by an RCA official. The franchise strongly denied the claims, while calling for strict action against the individual involved. Currently, the RCA is managed by an ad hoc committee under Deen Dayal Kumawat, and internal instability is believed to have influenced RR’s decision to move some of their home matches to Pune.
Rajasthan Royals, winners of IPL 2008, already use Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati as an additional home ground. Sources suggest that the official announcement from the BCCI regarding Pune as a home venue could come very soon, confirming the city’s growing role in the IPL landscape.
