M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India (40,000 capacity) was established in 1969 and is the home of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. At 920 metres above sea level with short boundaries and a flat pitch, it is one of the highest-scoring grounds in world cricket. The ball travels further in the thinner air, and the pitch gives bowlers almost nothing: it is a place where 200 in a T20 is not an event but an expectation. The result is a ground where 200 in a T20 innings is not an event but an expectation, and where bowlers who survive an IPL evening without conceding 50 runs in four overs consider it a personal triumph.
The Chinnaswamy holds 40,000 spectators and has been the headquarters of Karnataka cricket since 1969. But the ground’s modern identity was forged by the Indian Premier League and, specifically, by Virat Kohli. As the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for over a decade, Kohli turned the Chinnaswamy into one of the most electric venues in franchise cricket. His 973 runs in IPL 2016 included four centuries, several of them scored at this ground, and the crowd’s relationship with Kohli at the Chinnaswamy goes beyond fandom into something closer to worship. When he walks out to bat, 40,000 people stand as one.
In Test cricket, the Chinnaswamy has produced its share of classics. India’s run chase of 209 against Australia in 2017, when Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane held the innings together, and the ground’s tendency to produce results (flat pitch or not, the bounce is genuine) make it a venue where draws are rare. The pitch offers something for seamers early on before flattening out, and the evening dew in day-night matches makes bowling second a genuine challenge.
The Chinnaswamy made global headlines in 2024 when its solar-powered energy system and rainwater harvesting infrastructure were showcased during the IPL, making it one of the most environmentally advanced cricket stadiums in the world. The ground harvests enough rainwater to maintain the outfield without municipal supply.
In 2026, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium continues as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home in the IPL, where evening matches under lights bring the city’s tech workforce flooding in from surrounding offices. The ground is also used for bilateral international series whenever India host, and its reputation for run-fests makes it a broadcaster’s dream.
Bengaluru operates on India Standard Time (IST, UTC+5:30). An IPL match at 19:30 IST is 15:00 BST in London, 10:00 AM EDT in New York, and 00:00 midnight AEST in Sydney. The mild Bengaluru climate means cricket here is comfortable year-round, unlike the furnace conditions at some other Indian venues. Check whatisthetime.now/bengaluru for current local time or whatisthetime.now/country/india for Indian timezone details.