Change is in the air for Rajasthan Royals and this time it goes far beyond team combinations or auction plans. As the IPL 2026 approaches, the franchise is preparing to play its home matches away from Jaipur, a city that has long been central to its identity. Instead, Pune is set to become the team’s primary base, marking a major shift for both the club and its fans.
Reports suggest that the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan Royals’ traditional home ground, has not met required safety standards, particularly related to crowd movement and emergency evacuation. With player and spectator safety taking priority, the franchise has decided to move its base to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. However, Pune will not host all home games. As has been the case in recent seasons, Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium will continue to share hosting duties, with some matches scheduled there as well.
Interestingly, Pune was also being considered by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at one point after concerns were raised by the Karnataka government about the safety of large gatherings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Since then, the Karnataka State Cricket Association has expressed confidence that the issues will be resolved in time, keeping Bengaluru in the IPL hosting circuit.
While infrastructure concerns may have triggered the move for Rajasthan Royals, the relationship between the franchise and the Rajasthan Cricket Association has been strained for some time. Over the past year, public disagreements and serious allegations regarding match fixing created unwanted noise, which the franchise firmly denied. Senior cricket officials also dismissed these claims but the episode added to the growing tension between both sides.
The situation worsened when the Board of Control for Cricket in India stepped in, warning the state association that Jaipur would not host IPL matches until its administrative problems were sorted out. The BCCI has been pushing for long-overdue elections and a properly elected body, as the association has been run by temporary committees for nearly two years, which goes against board regulations. Despite multiple chances, consensus has not been reached and yet another interim committee is expected to take charge.
For Pune, this move brings IPL cricket back to a venue that last hosted matches in 2022. Once home to a now-defunct IPL team, the MCA Stadium has been waiting for a return to the spotlight. For Rajasthan Royals and their fans, however, the shift feels emotional, signalling that home, at least for now, is no longer Jaipur.
