Pune could be set for a return to the Indian Premier League ahead of the 2026 season, with the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) International Stadium being a strong contender to host matches. The development follows recent visits by IPL franchises Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals.

The MCA International Stadium at Gahunje has long been regarded as one of India’s premier cricket venues, having modern facilities and a seating capacity suited for marquee events. While Pune has previously hosted IPL matches during earlier editions and as a temporary home for franchises, it has been absent from the tournament’s regular venue list in recent seasons. 

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Maharashtra Cricket Association expressed gratitude to RCB and RR for visiting the stadium a couple of weeks ago. According to the MCA, the franchises’ presence helped display the venue as a premier destination for top-tier cricketing events. Such recce visits are used to assess infrastructure, pitch conditions, training facilities, logistics, and overall readiness to host matches.

MCA confident of recieving BCCI's approval to host IPL games

The MCA are confident about receiving the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) approval to host IPL fixtures in the near future. Emphasising the BCCI’s support, the association stated that the stadium could soon be cleared as a venue for upcoming matches involving one of the visiting franchises.

Meanwhile, the stadium has a solid track record. It last hosted an international match in January 2025, when India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated England by 15 runs in a T20I. Overall, the venue has staged five T20Is, three Tests, and 12 ODIs. More recently, it successfully conducted the knockout stages of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, including the final, where Jharkhand clinched their maiden title.