IPL 2026 still has no schedule, and Jaipur sits at the heart of the delay. Rajasthan Royals want safety guarantees before they agree to play at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The BCCI backs their concern. The Rajasthan State Sports Council does not.
The Rajasthan Royals are hesitant to play at their home ground, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. This hesitation follows a detailed safety audit that raised serious concerns about the venue.
A 700-Page Report That Nobody Wants to Hear
An independent audit flagged serious issues across 700 pages. The state council reviewed the findings for ten days, dismissed most of them, and declared the stadium ready. RR responded by asking the council for an indemnity waiver, essentially a formal guarantee that the franchise would not be held responsible if something went wrong on matchday. That request still sits unresolved.
BCCI Draws a Line on Fan Safety
The BCCI has been clear about where it stands. A source from the board said the stadium falls noticeably short compared to other IPL venues in terms of safety measures, crowd management, and the overall experience for fans and families. These, the board said, are not optional upgrades. They are non-negotiable.
The Bengaluru stampede earlier this year changed how everyone thinks about crowd safety at large events. RR’s caution is not paranoia; it reflects a real shift in how teams and administrators view their duty to fans. The council’s flat dismissal of most safety concerns feels tone-deaf in that context.
There is still time to get this right. Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted iconic cricket for decades, and Jaipur’s fans deserve to see IPL cricket at home. But dismissing a 700-page audit with a ten-day review does not inspire confidence. The stadium can get there; it just needs the people in charge to stop defending the status quo and start fixing it.
