Rajasthan Royals (RR) are racing to get their home ground ready for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season and have sought an indemnity waiver from the state government to host matches in Jaipur.
The request follows concerns over the venue's readiness raised by an independent auditor and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Amid uncertainty over the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the Indian board has not been able to share the final IPL schedule with the franchises.
According to a PTI report, the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) has brushed aside most of the safety concerns raised by Tata Projects in its 700-page audit, despite the BCCI rating the stadium as the lowest in terms of fan experience.
After RCB clinched their maiden IPL title win last year, celebrations in Bengaluru became hectic when a stampede broke out outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading to the loss of 11 lives. The tragic incident sparked safety concerns among other franchises as well.
RR, through TATA Projects, had earlier submitted a 700-page audit report of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, highlighting massive 'fan safety concerns'.
In response, RSSC appointed a committee that included its PWD department. It conducted a 10-day assessment and concluded that RR's concerns are baseless, except for minor repair work, and that the venue is fully ready to stage IPL matches.
"Unfortunately SMS stadium significantly lags behind other IPL venues on modern facilities and overall fan experience," the news agency quoted a BCCI source as saying.
"Safety and security protocols, fan experience and overall comfort of people, family coming to watch matches at SMS stadium, are paramount to IPL and are non-negotiable," the source added.
The BCCI source also claimed that the RSSC were warned last year that the board does not encourage direct liaising with state govt or local authorities, except its member association, and a special permission was granted to RSSC during IPL 2024 and 2025 in the absence of a functioning RCA.
"It was a one time dispensation under exceptional circumstances, and it was very clearly communicated. It cannot be set as a precedent and cannot continue," the source stated.
During the audit, tests were carried out in accordance with the central government-established and updated national regulatory codes such as National Building Code, National Electric Code, Fire Code and Safety Code in Sports Ground.
The reports cited severe deficiencies in life safety, structural integrity and statutory compliance, highlighting that the stadium fails to meet minimum safety standards across parameters.
(With PTI Inputs)
