Rajasthan Royals (RR) are yet to name their captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja in the running.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will play their IPL 2026 home matches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje, Pune, marking the end of their long association with the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, at least for the upcoming season.
Known as the ‘SMS’ ground, Rajasthan hosted 67 matches there, winning 43 of them. Over the past five years, however, returns have diminished as RR have won only six of their last 15 matches while losing the other nine.
New IPL 2026 venue for RR
According to RevSportz, the decision was taken after the Jaipur venue failed to comply with updated evacuation and safety standards. With no clear timetable for when these issues would be resolved, the Royals moved quickly to find an alternative base, and Pune emerged as the most practical option.
The Royals’ operational team had visited Pune last month to inspect the MCA Stadium, examining the pitch conditions, seating capacity, player facilities, hotel availability and travel logistics. These discussions have now translated into a formal agreement, with Pune set to host the majority of Rajasthan’s home matches in IPL 2026. As in the last two seasons, Guwahati will continue to be the franchise’s secondary venue, where RR are expected to play three matches.
The MCA Stadium is no stranger to the IPL. It was the home ground of Rising Pune SuperGiants (RPSG) for IPL 2016 and IPL 2017. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) adopted this ground as their temporary home in 2018, a season which ended with the franchise lifting the trophy. Rajasthan hopes Pune’s change will bring similar fortune.
Interestingly, the stadium was also in advanced talks with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earlier this year. RCB were exploring backup options after the M Chinnaswamy Stadium faced serious uncertainties following safety and security concerns raised by the Karnataka government and local authorities after the unfortunate stampede episode. However, these negotiations never came to fruition, allowing Rajasthan to seal the deal.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune – IPL Statistics
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First match | 04/08/2012 |
| Last T20 match | 05/14/2022 |
| Matches played | 51 |
| Games won batting first | 28 (54.90%) |
| Games won batting second | 23 (45.10%) |
| Higher individual sleeves | 106 Shane Watson (CSK) vs Rajasthan Royals – 2018 |
| Best bowling | 4/10 Lungi Ngidi (CSK) vs PBKS – 2018 |
| Highest team sleeves | 211/4 (CSK) vs DC – 2018 |
| Lowest team innings | 73 (PBKS) vs. RPSG – 2017 |
| Highest stroke achieved | 196/7 (GL) versus RPSG – 2016 |
| Average runs per wicket | 25:39 |
| Average batting score first | 162.37 |
With Pune now locked and Guwahati retained as the secondary venue, Rajasthan Royals have a clear vision of their 2026 base. However, they are yet to name a captain for IPL 2026. Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag are touted as the favorites in the leadership race. However, the additions of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran have made things interesting.
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