Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have never really needed a second home. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with its noise, short boundaries and Virat Kohli at the centre of it all, has always been enough. But IPL 2026 is changing that. For the first time, RCB are stepping out of Bengaluru. And in Raipur, they are not just taking a couple of games. They are taking the biggest ones.
RCB take marquee clashes to Raipur
The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur has been confirmed as RCB’s second home for IPL 2026, and it will host two of their most high-profile fixtures. RCB will face Mumbai Indians on May 10, followed by a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 13, both scheduled as day-night matches.
These are not random fixtures. Mumbai Indians bring with them names like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, while KKR arrive with their own match-winners. Add Virat Kohli into that mix, and Raipur suddenly becomes the centre of the IPL for that week. Undoubtedly a superb piece of news for Raipur, which last hosted IPL matches a decade ago when Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils) had it as their second home venue.
There is already a sense of buzz around the city. For a region that does not regularly host top-tier cricket, the chance to watch some of the biggest names in the game has created serious anticipation. RCB last played in Raipur back in 2016 as well.
Second homes becoming IPL’s new strategy
RCB are not alone in this shift. Across the league, franchises are beginning to treat second venues as strategic assets rather than backup options. Rajasthan Royals continue their association with Guwahati, where they will host three key fixtures. Punjab Kings are doing the same with Dharamsala, taking big games away from Mullanpur.
This is because the IPL is expanding its footprint without formally adding new teams. By spreading marquee games across cities like Raipur, Guwahati and Dharamsala, franchises are tapping into fresh markets, building new fan bases and increasing match-day engagement beyond traditional centres.
The BCCI released the full IPL 2026 schedule on Thursday. There are a total of 70 league games but the playoff venues aren’t confirmed yet.
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur: IPL stats
| Span | M | Runs | Wicket | Balls | Average | RPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2016 | 6 | 1741 | 60 | 1396 | 29.01 | 7.48 |
RCB full schedule for IPL 2026
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28-Mar-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 19:30 |
| 05-Apr-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 19:30 |
| 10-Apr-26 | Rajasthan Royals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati | 19:30 |
| 12-Apr-26 | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai | 19:30 |
| 15-Apr-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow Super Giants | Bengaluru | 19:30 |
| 18-Apr-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Capitals | Bengaluru | 15:30 |
| 24-Apr-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Titans | Bengaluru | 19:30 |
| 27-Apr-26 | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi | 19:30 |
| 30-Apr-26 | Gujarat Titans | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Ahmedabad | 19:30 |
| 07-May-26 | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow | 19:30 |
| 10-May-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai Indians | Raipur | 19:30 |
| 13-May-26 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Kolkata Knight Riders | Raipur | 19:30 |
| 17-May-26 | Punjab Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Dharamshala | 15:30 |
| 22-May-26 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Hyderabad | 19:30 |
