Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced they will keep 11 seats vacant at their M Chinnaswamy Stadium as a tribute to fans crushed to death during title celebrations last year. RCB CEO Rajesh Menon stated, "This is a tribute to our fans, who will always remain a part of our journey."

The 2026 IPL season begins on Saturday, with RCB hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at home. The Bengaluru team, including star batsman Virat Kohli, will warm up in tops featuring the number 11 and wear black armbands for the match. This gesture commemorates the 11 supporters aged between 14 and 29 who died in a stampede outside the stadium in June last year, after RCB won the IPL for the first time.

Following the tragedy, authorities deemed the venue unsafe due to structural and crowd management deficiencies, moving key fixtures elsewhere. However, earlier this month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the stadium would host games, including RCB's home fixtures. Menon said crowd management measures have been "significantly strengthened," with the installation of artificial intelligence-guided cameras for real-time alerts.

The stampede occurred a day after RCB's final victory over Punjab Kings, during a homecoming trophy parade that drew hundreds of thousands to the streets to welcome Kohli and his teammates. Over 50 people were injured. Police questioned several officials, including a senior RCB executive and representatives from event organizers DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association, but no convictions have been made.

Source: www.aljazeera.com