KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad Meets Karnataka Dy CM Ahead of IPL 2026 Opener
Karnataka: Ahead of the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, former Indian cricketer and Karnataka State Cricket Association president Venkatesh Prasad met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday.
The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
After months of uncertainty following a stampede incident on June 4, 2025, the Karnataka government has now granted permission to host IPL matches at the stadium.
The KSCA has undertaken large-scale renovation work at the venue, including installing new entry gates, widening existing ones, and upgrading external infrastructure. Improvements also include new pedestrian pathways, a waiting area near the former National Cricket Academy facility, and dedicated entry and exit routes for emergency services.
The renovation work began in mid-December last year after KSCA elections, in which Venkatesh Prasad was elected president. KSCA officials have been working closely with state authorities to ensure all procedural requirements are met.
After winning their maiden IPL title last season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the new season as strong contenders. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad are expected to pose a tough challenge with a powerful batting lineup featuring Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
On the other hand, RCB will rely on the experience and firepower of stars like Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma as both teams aim to kick off their campaign with a win.
