No Home Venue Confirmed Yet for Rajasthan Royals Ahead of IPL 2026 as SMS Stadium Audit Raises Concerns

As the IPL 2026 season approaches, the home venue for Rajasthan Royals (RR) matches remains unconfirmed. The franchise has requested an indemnity waiver from the Rajasthan state government to host games in Jaipur, citing safety concerns highlighted by an independent audit firm. The BCCI has also expressed reservations over the stadium’s preparedness, delaying the release of the final IPL schedule.

According to a PTI report, the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) has dismissed most of the issues raised in the 700-page audit submitted by Tata Projects, which focused on fan safety at the SMS Stadium. The BCCI, however, ranked the venue lowest among IPL grounds in terms of overall fan experience.

The audit was submitted following last year’s deadly stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium, and included detailed evaluations of safety protocols and stadium infrastructure. In response, the RSSC formed a committee—including representatives from its PWD department—that conducted a 10-day assessment. The panel concluded that most concerns were unfounded, except for minor repair work, and stated that the stadium is ready to host IPL matches.

A BCCI source told PTI, “SMS Stadium significantly lags behind other IPL venues on modern facilities and overall fan experience. Safety and security protocols, as well as the comfort of fans and families attending matches, are paramount to IPL and non-negotiable.”

The source added that RSSC had been warned previously not to liaise directly with the state government or local authorities, except through its member association. Special permission had been granted to RSSC during IPL 2024 and 2025 due to the absence of a functioning Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).

The audit was conducted following national regulatory codes, including the National Building Code, National Electric Code, Fire Code, and Safety Code for Sports Grounds. The findings highlighted severe deficiencies in life safety, structural integrity, and statutory compliance, indicating that the SMS Stadium currently fails to meet minimum safety standards across multiple parameters.