Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will set aside 11 seats in memory of the Stampede victims.
Published March 24, 2026
Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will keep 11 seats empty at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in memory of the fans who were crushed to death during last year’s title celebrations, the team management has announced.
“This is a tribute to our fans who have always been a part of our journey,” RCB CEO Rajesh Menon said on Tuesday.
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In June, after RCB won the IPL for the first time, 11 supporters aged between 14 and 29 died in the crowd outside the stadium.
The lucrative Twenty20 cricket tournament begins its 2026 season on Saturday when RCB hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Bengaluru team, including star batsman Virat Kohli, will warm up for the match wearing tops with number 11 on their backs and will wear black armbands during the match.
Following the tragedy, authorities deemed the venue unsafe due to structural and crowd management deficiencies and moved the key match venue to another location.
However, earlier this month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the stadium would host matches, including RCB’s home matches.
Mr Menon said crowd control measures had been “significantly enhanced”, including the installation of artificial intelligence-guided cameras.
“The system provides real-time alerts, including stand-specific crowd counts, for enhanced monitoring and control,” he said.
The crowding came a day after RCB returned to the homecoming trophy parade with a win in the final against Punjab Kings.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets to welcome the heroic Kohli and his victorious teammates.
More than 50 people were injured.
Several officials, including senior executives of RCB, event organizers DNA and representatives of the Karnataka Cricket Association were questioned by the police.
No one has been convicted.
