Just a day after reports suggested Rajasthan Royals could continue playing in Jaipur, the mood has shifted again. The franchise may stay at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium for IPL 2026, but only if certain safety and infrastructure concerns are addressed.
According to TOI, RR have written to the IPL chairman, BCCI secretary and the league CEO seeking clarity on what they describe as a lack of “fail-safe measures” at the venue. While the Rajasthan government wants the team to remain in Jaipur, the Royals are unwilling to proceed without written assurances.
Rajasthan Royals’ SMS under spotlight
“Royals, while in principle agreeing to play matches at SMS Stadium, have written to the IPL chairman, BCCI secretary and the CEO seeking clarification on the status of the Jaipur stadium’s lack of fail-safe measures. From civic work to emergency evacuation, there exist serious issues of public safety and Royals have communicated everything to the RSSC, BCCI and IPL governing council,” a source told TOI.
The SMS Stadium, renovated back in 2006, has seen little structural upgrade since. RR have flagged concerns around emergency evacuation systems, structural readiness and overall compliance with modern safety norms. With IPL crowds getting bigger each year, the franchise wants guarantees that public safety standards are fully met.
It last hosted a T20I in November 2021 and has not staged an ODI in over a decade. The franchise believes the venue needs urgent attention to meet modern IPL standards.
As reported earlier, the Rajasthan government had urged RR to continue playing in Jaipur, and the BCCI had informally advised the franchise to explore that possibility. However, RR management had made it clear that facilities at the SMS Stadium needed to be brought up to standard before the season begins on March 26. With less than 45 days left at the time, things look bleak for the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The bigger problem, however, remains governance. The Rajasthan Cricket Association continues to operate without an elected body, functioning under ad hoc committees for nearly two years. The IPL Governing Council had earlier warned that if RCA failed to hold elections, Jaipur could lose its IPL 2026 fixtures. Last season, RR had even assessed the MCA Stadium in Pune as a potential alternate venue. Guwahati already serves as their secondary home.
