IPL 2026: RCB, KSCA to honour 11 victims with memorial plaque and reserved seats at Chinnaswamy Stadium

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to begin on March 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue that witnessed a tragic incident on June 4, 2025, when 11 lives were lost during RCB’s maiden IPL title celebrations. As RCB prepares for the new season, both the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the franchise have implemented measures to honour the memory of the young victims.

The KSCA will unveil a memorial plaque near the inner entrance of the stadium, close to the mural, creating a lasting space for remembrance within the venue that witnessed both joy and tragedy. Additionally, 11 seats inside the stadium will be permanently reserved in memory of those who lost their lives.

These seats will not be sold for any matches, including international fixtures, and are expected to be located together in a premier stand, allowing the area to be cordoned off as a mark of respect.

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On match days, RCB will lead tributes before the start of play. The names of the victims will be displayed inside the stadium, followed by a minute’s silence, with the visiting team also expected to join in the remembrance.

“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 memorial plaque will serve as a point of remembrance, similar to the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield Stadium, which honors the 97 Liverpool fans who died in a crush during the FA Cup semifinal on April 15, 1989, at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.