T20 World Cup 2026: The schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026 has been officially announced, and one of the biggest talking points is the continued exclusion of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Despite being one of India’s most iconic cricket venues, the stadium has once again been left out of a major ICC event, extending its run of high-profile omissions.
Bengaluru Misses Out Following 2025 IPL Tragedy
The decision comes in the aftermath of the tragic stampede that occurred during celebrations after the 2025 Indian Premier League season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had claimed their maiden IPL title, bringing thousands of supporters to the victory parade outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In a sudden crowd surge, at least 11 people lost their lives, and nearly 50 others were injured. The incident shocked the cricketing community and raised serious concerns about crowd control, public safety measures, and the venue’s preparedness to handle major international events.
Following this tragedy, the stadium has been under strict scrutiny. Both the BCCI and ICC have indicated that Bengaluru will not return as a host venue until all safety and crowd-management issues have been comprehensively addressed.
Matches Shifted Even During Women’s World Cup 2025
Bengaluru’s exclusion is not new. During the Women’s World Cup in 2025, matches originally planned for the city were also shifted to Navi Mumbai due to similar concerns.
For a city known for its passionate cricket fans, modern facilities, and long-established cricketing heritage, the repeated sidelining has come as a significant disappointment.
Local fans expected Bengaluru to play a central role in hosting World Cup matches, but the current situation leaves the city watching from the sidelines while other venues take center stage.
India–Sri Lanka to Jointly Host T20 World Cup 2026
The 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The finalised list of venues features some of the most trusted and infrastructure-ready stadiums in both countries.
Prominent Indian Venues Selected
Stadiums in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai have secured hosting rights, once again reinforcing their reliability for major ICC events.
Sri Lankan Venues Also Get a Strong Presence
In Sri Lanka, matches will take place in Kandy and Colombo, both of which have proven track records of hosting international cricket.
Will Chinnaswamy Return in Future ICC Events?
Cricket board officials have suggested that safety audits, infrastructure upgrades, and crowd-management enhancements are expected to continue at the Bengaluru venue. A potential return to the ICC hosting roster will depend entirely on the successful implementation of these measures.
While the exclusion is a setback, it also represents a necessary step toward ensuring that similar tragedies never occur again.
FULL LIST OF VENUES FOR T20 WORLD CUP 2026
India
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sri Lanka
- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
- R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Format, Venues & Key Details