IPL 2026: RCB pays tribute to 2025 stampede victims; 11 reserved seats at M Chinnaswamy
Bengaluru, March 28
Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday honoured the fans who lost their lives in the 2025 stampede by reserving 11 seats at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of their first Indian Premier League 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Notably, these seats are set to remain permanently unoccupied during all IPL and international matches.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, players from both RCB and SRH also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives in 2025.
For the unversed, 11 fans died, and several were injured in the stampede caused outside the stadium during the victory celebrations following RCB's first IPL title win. Cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June 2025.
During the tournament opener against the Hyderabad-based franchise, the defending champions RCB, are also wearing black armbands.
A statement from RCB said, "Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the eleven members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4."
"As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys bearing the number 11 during the warm-up, followed by black armbands during the match."
"In a lasting gesture of remembrance, eleven seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, serving as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family," the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru won the toss and decided to field against the SRH in the tournament opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
At 27 years and 253 days, Ishan Kishan, who is the stand-in captain of the Sunrisers, became franchises' second-youngest skipper, behind Kane Williamson (27y, 244d) in 2018.
Playing XI of both teams:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.Royal Challengers Bengaluru
(Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This tribute brings tears to my eyes. I was in Bengaluru that day in 2025. The joy of the win turned into such a tragedy so quickly. Seeing the players wear black armbands and the empty seats... it's a sobering start to the season. Hope the stadium authorities have seriously improved crowd management.
While the tribute is good, let's not forget this was a preventable disaster. The focus should also be on what concrete steps have been taken to ensure safety. Permanent empty seats are symbolic, but permanent safety protocols are what we really need. The BCCI and police need to be held accountable.
Ee sala cup namde... but at what cost? That 2025 title will always be bittersweet. This is a fitting way to honor the lives lost. The team is carrying their memory forward. Let's play for them this season. #RCBForever 💔
Watching from the UK. This is a profoundly moving gesture. It shows the deep connection between the franchise and its supporters. Sports tributes like this resonate globally. Respect to RCB for handling this with such dignity.
The number 11 on the practice jerseys is a subtle yet strong touch. Every time the camera pans to those empty seats in the stadium, the whole nation will remember. It's more than cricket. Hoping for a safe and peaceful tournament for all fans.
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