MI deny RCB permission to use Navi Mumbai as base for IPL 2026; says consider non-IPL centers first: Report

The Mumbai Indian (MI) have reportedly denied Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for hosting their IPL 2026 games at the DY Patil Sports Academy ground in Navi Mumbai. 

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In January, reports had claimed that RCB, who won the IPL 2025 title, were hesitant in returning to their home of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after the Bengaluru stampede and that they wanted to host their home matches at the Navi Mumbai venue. 

According to the Times of India, MI wanted RCB to look into other venues for its IPL 2026 home matches, citing the fact that the country has many non-IPL centres.  

According to the source, MI inquired as to why RCB preferred only the DY Patil Stadium above other options. It is important to remember that in order to play at the DY Patil Stadium, RCB must obtain permission from the Mumbai Indians, whose home stadium, Wankhede Stadium, is not far away. 

“If a franchise wants to establish a home base not far from the home of another franchise, it needs clearance to go ahead. It is the same catchment area. Wankhede and DY Patil are not far apart. If a franchise wants to set up a base at DY Patil, it cannot happen without approval from the one operating out of Wankhede. MI reasoned, ‘Why only DY Patil and not any other stadium in the country? There are plenty. MI is of the opinion that RCB must exhaust other options before coming to DY Patil. There are so many non-IPL centres in the country,” a source claimed as per Times of India.

The source noted that RCB might hold its matches in a number of locations, including Vizag, Rajkot, Pune, and Indore. 

MI wants RCB to explore all other options first before asking them for Navi Mumbai ground

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Any other team could approach the Mumbai Indians in the future to play its IPL matches at the Brabourne Stadium, which is also adjacent to the Wankhede Stadium, the source said, defending MI's decision to refuse permission to RCB.

“There are established centres like Rajkot, Pune, Raipur, Vizag and Indore. The current situation is simple, if MI says yes to DY Patil then tomorrow some other team can come and express desire to host their matches at Brabourne. It kills the sanctity of home territories. And there needs to be a strong reasoning in place why RCB is not ready to play at these centres and only interested in DY Patil,” the source added.

Home Minister G Parameshwara has scheduled a meeting to find out if the state government will allow the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to conduct matches at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday.

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