Karnataka Open to Hosting Cricket Matches Again, Says D.K. Shivakumar

Belagavi, Dec 2025 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said he is “open-minded” about the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) request to resume hosting international and IPL matches at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Speaking to reporters near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and Circuit House in Belagavi, Shivakumar confirmed that KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad had formally submitted a proposal seeking permission to restart matches at the iconic venue. “The new KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad met me and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He has submitted a request, and we will discuss it in the cabinet meeting,” he said.

Shivakumar, however, underscored that safety and crowd management remain top priorities in the wake of the tragic stampede on June 4 that left 11 people dead. Since the incident, Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any major cricket events. “The accident near Chinnaswamy Stadium should not have happened, but it did. Many lapses occurred. These must be rectified, and crowd management should follow separate, stricter guidelines,” he noted.

Despite the setback, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that the government is not opposed to cricket or major tournaments being held in Bengaluru. “Personally, I am very open-minded about this matter. We should not allow the reputation of our state to be damaged. We will place this matter before the cabinet and take a suitable decision,” he said.

Earlier in the day, KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad, along with other newly elected office-bearers, met both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister in Belagavi to push for the resumption of cricket activities. According to Shivakumar, the government intends to examine crowd-management practices thoroughly and adopt the recommendations of the Justice Michael D’Cunha Committee in a phased manner. “Prasad has agreed to this approach,” he added.

Shivakumar also made it clear that the government would not allow major fixtures—whether IPL or international matches—to be shifted out of Bengaluru. “We have no intention of stopping cricket matches. We only want strong systems in place. I have conveyed that we should work together,” he said.

He further added that the state government is open to developing new stadiums to support Karnataka’s growing sporting ecosystem, and this proposal will also be discussed at the cabinet meeting.

Team Maverick.