Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will begin on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue carries emotional weight after a tragic incident on June 4, 2025. Eleven people lost their lives during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL title.
As the new season approaches, both the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and RCB have taken steps to honour the victims. A memorial plaque will be installed inside the stadium. It will be placed near the inner entrance, close to an existing mural. This space will act as a permanent reminder of the lives lost.
Special tribute planned inside the stadium
KSCA has also decided to reserve 11 seats in memory of the victims. These seats will never be sold for any match. This includes IPL and international games. The seats are expected to be grouped together in a premium stand. The area will remain cordoned off as a mark of respect.
On match days, RCB will lead tribute ceremonies. The names of the victims will be displayed inside the stadium. A minute’s silence will be observed before the start of play. The visiting team is also expected to take part.
“It is painful to even think about the tragic incident. But we have been discussing the memorial for a while with the managing committee and other major stakeholders and collectively felt it was important to honour the memory of the 11 people. We don’t want to rekindle any pain; instead, remember them. That’s why we decided to place an epitaph of the cricket fans whose lives were cut short tragically,” said KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad as quoted by the Times of India.
“It’s a joint decision between the KSCA and the franchise since they are an integral part of the Chinnaswamy Stadium,” said Prasad on the seats being marked.
The idea is similar to the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield, which honours 97 Liverpool fans.
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