RR planning to switch to Pune for the 2026 IPL season due to issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
For the upcoming IPL season, will the Rajasthan Royals (RR) move to a different state? Though nothing is official yet, there are signs that a change is imminent. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) must first certify that it is prepared to host the franchise, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have the last say.
The management of the Rajasthan Royals has started looking into potential new bases, and they have found the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. The MCA and RR officials have already had preliminary conversations.
Recently, a franchise operations team visited Pune to evaluate the stadium, hotel alternatives, airport connectivity, and other logistical aspects. The Royals are pushing to move because of what appear to be problems with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). When an RCA official accused the team of match-fixing last season, the issue worsened. The Royals vehemently refuted the accusation and demanded harsh punishment for the culprit.
RR will play at least four home games in the city if the Gahunje stadium, which is near the Mumbai-Pune Motorway, gets approved. The remaining three games are anticipated to take place in Guwahati.
For the past three seasons, the IPL has not been held in the MCA Stadium. With the exception of the Playoffs, which were held in Kolkata and Ahmedabad, only three locations in Mumbai and Pune hosted IPL games in 2022.