Rajasthan Royals writes to BCCI, IPL GC seeking clarity over Sawai Mansingh Stadium concerns – Sportstar

Subscribers Only Have you subscribed yet?
Buy Print
Updated : Feb 12, 2026 17:24 IST , MUMBAI – 3 MINS READ
Comments
Follow Us
SHARE
READ LATER
File – Rajasthan Royals players during an IPL 2025 practice session at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Will Sawai Mansingh Stadium continue to remain a home base for Rajasthan Royals? Even though the Jaipur-based franchise has ‘in principle’ agreed to play its game at the iconic ground, it has written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council seeking clarity over unresolved safety and infrastructural concerns at the venue.
The letter issued to the BCCI and IPL top officials in the last week of January pointed out that that the franchise is willing to play its home games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, subject to the submission and formal acknowledgement of the stadium’s safety and compliance report by the BCCI, Rajasthan State Sports Council and the Chief Minister’s Office.
In its letter to the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, the franchise also requested that the Board to advise on the issue and give a formal approval, confirming that the stadium is suitable and safe for such large-scale event.
Sources in the BCCI confirmed that they have received the letter from the franchise and are looking to sort things out at the earliest, given that there’s not much time left for the IPL to begin.
ALSO READ | Dhoni to deposit Rs. 10 lakh for transcription, translation in Madras HC defamation suit
Sportstar understands that since June last year, the franchise expressed its concerns with the State Sports Council and the BCCI regarding the safety and structural integrity of the stadium across all the operational areas, in accordance with the National regulatory codes and guidelines.
In January, the franchise submitted a stadium audit report, done by a reputed private sector company, to the Rajasthan State Sports Council and the BCCI office-bearers, highlighting major lapses in the stadium’s life safety, structural integrity and statutory compliance, and sought suggestions from the Board.
Back in 2006, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium underwent an overhaul, but thereafter, the stadium hasn’t seen too many major structural renovations. Even though it hosted a few matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, where Rohit Sharma featured for Mumbai, the stadium’s lack of fail-safe measures became a major talking point, with spectators taking to social media to highlight the lack of basic facilities. Even some of the participating teams were unhappy with the security provided at the stadium.
After the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi in December, the league’s chairman Arun Dhumal made it clear that the BCCI had already warned the Rajasthan Cricket Association in 2024 that failure to conduct elections would jeopardise the state’s ability to host IPL matches. “We had already communicated to the RCA last year that in case you are not able to organise these elections, it would be difficult for us to conduct the tournament there,” Dhumal had said.
However, the RCA continues to be in doldrums and mired in internal conflicts.
Comments
Published on Feb 12, 2026
IPL 2026 /
Rajasthan Royals /
Sawai Mansingh Stadium /
BCCI
BACK TO TOP
Terms & conditions  |  Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment

source