Rajasthan Royals Shifting Their Home Games From Sawai Man Singh Stadium To Pune’s MCA Stadium. What Makes It The Ideal Fortress For The Team?

For cricket fans, the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Stadium in Jaipur has always held a special place. Back in 2016, it stepped in as a substitute for the world-famous Wankhede Stadium because of a severe drought in Maharashtra. But now, the script has completely flipped. Reportedly, the Rajasthan Royals are considering moving their home games to Pune’s MCA Stadium for the upcoming season. The primary reason for this shift in their fortress is said to be around safety measures. Apparently, the SMS Stadium hasn’t met the evacuation safety norms.

The move might seem to be influenced by the heightened safety measures after the Bengaluru stampede on June 4, 2025. For context, the stadium made its international debut in 1983 by hosting the iconic India vs Pakistan rivalry. It has a capacity for over 24,000 spectators. While official numbers aren’t publicly available, informal layouts suggest there aren't enough gates to manage large crowds. Some stands depend on narrow staircases and vomitories. Considering the stadium has seen major renovation projects in the past, this shift comes as a bit of a surprise.

Fans might remember that in 2006, the stadium underwent a massive ₹400 crore renovation. A world-class cricket academy was built for ₹7 crore, featuring 28 rooms, a gym, restaurant, 2 conference halls, and a swimming pool. Even recently, the 2024-25 state budget announced that the SMS stadium was set to undergo renovation with the expansion of the South pavilion and an increase in the seating capacity to around 50,000. Even with these upgrades, it’s easy to see why the RR is still leaning towards the MCA Stadium for its 2026 campaign.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium offers an overall experience for the spectators. It has a seating capacity for 45,000 sports enthusiasts. A special sand-based outfield treated with a special chemical compound for turf management ensures top-quality playing conditions and top-notch drainage. The stadium is also no stranger to hosting the IPL. It has previously served as the home ground for Rising Pune Supergiant. Also, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru was in talks with the stadium to serve as their home ground due to uncertainty over the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.