The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune is likely to host a few Rajasthan Royals (RR) home games in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), sources familiar with the matter have informed.
Previously, it was reported that RR and defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were in the running to get the venue in Gahunje as their home base for IPL 2026. RR conducted an inspection of the stadium and made an initial assessment of nearby facilities.
Sources indicate that RR is more likely to secure Pune as their home venue, which would replace Jaipur, their base since the inception of IPL in 2008. “Things are going very close for both MCA and RR to close the deal. Many discussions are going on, so this is likely to be a reality,” the sources noted.
RR’s decision to shift some of their home matches away from Sawai Mansingh Stadium stems from ongoing disagreements with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Tensions escalated in IPL 2025 when an RCA official made match-fixing allegations against the franchise, which RR has categorically denied while calling for strict action against the individual involved.
Currently, the RCA is managed by an adhoc committee led by Deen Dayal Kumawat, and it is understood that the lack of order within the RCA is a significant factor in RR’s potential move to Pune for their home games.
RR, the IPL 2008 winners, also have another home ground at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. “It’s like a matter of time now for this announcement to come anytime soon from the BCCI,” commented another source tracking the developments.
The MCA Stadium in Pune has hosted men’s international matches in all formats, including the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup and the Women’s T20 Challenge. In IPL, it has served as the home ground for Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings at various times throughout the 2010s.