Word has it the Rajasthan Royals might move their home base to Pune for the 2026 IPL season. They're checking out other locations, but no decisions have been made. Of course, the BCCI gets the final say, and the Maharashtra Cricket Association needs to be ready to host them.
Sources say the Royals' management is considering moving to the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. They've started talking with MCA officials. Recently, a team from the franchise went to Pune to check out the stadium size, pitch, hotels, and how easy it is to get to the airport. This move is happening because of ongoing problems with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Last season, things got worse when an RCA official accused the Royals of match-fixing. The franchise denies this and wants the person held accountable.
If Gahunje gets the go-ahead, the Rajasthan Royals will probably play at least four home games in Pune. The other three? Maybe in Guwahati. The MCA Stadium, which is near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, hasn't seen IPL action for three seasons. The last time it did was in 2022, when games were limited to Mumbai and Pune, with the playoffs in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The Royals might move because of what happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. Word is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are thinking about moving home games, since Chinnaswamy Stadium won't be open. MCA people are looking at what to do, since both teams are interested. RCB wants more time to make a choice, maybe until the IPL auction next month. But the Royals seem ready to decide faster.
An MCA representative mentioned the franchise's visit centered on useful stuff such as the stadium, field conditions, and nearby hotels. They also said that Rohit Pawar, the association's president, really wants to see the IPL return to Pune. Right now, the MCA looks like it's leaning toward accepting the Rajasthan Royals' offer but is playing it safe by not making any announcements just yet.
People are curious to see if the Royals will move their home games to Pune. This could be a significant change in their plan for the 2026 IPL season. Pune has good support and excited local leaders, so that it might become the new home for this well-known IPL team.
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