M Chinnaswamy Stadium to host its first tournament since stampede tragedy

The iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, often celebrated as the focal point of Karnataka cricket, is set to reopen its gates for competitive cricket after one of the tragic incidents on June 4. For the first time since the stampede tragedy that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, the venue will host matches of the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) prestigious K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy. However, no fans will be allowed inside the stadium.

RCB's maiden IPL title drew a massive crowd of fans who surged towards the stadium to join the celebrations. The enormity of the crowd and mismanagement at the gates led to a fatal stampede with eleven lives lost, and more than 50 were injured. A government-commissioned inquiry later deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe for large-scale events, citing structural and crowd-control deficiencies.

In the aftermath, the KSCA faced backlash, while RCB initially remained silent before eventually pledging financial support. The incident forced authorities to reassess the stadium’s suitability for hosting major events, leading to restrictions and even the loss of hosting rights for several Women’s World Cup matches and the Maharaja Trophy.

RCB recently announced revised compensation package for the victims’ families

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, cricket is set to return to the venue in the form of the K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy, a red-ball pre-season competition featuring 16 teams, with the likes of Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Himachal. Notable Indian players such as Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, and Vijay Shankar are set to feature in the tournament. The stadium will host six matches, including one semi-final and the final scheduled for September 26.

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In line with safety recommendations, all matches will be staged behind closed doors. The KSCA continues to suffer with compliance issues, including fire safety regulations, and is currently dependent on generators and solar power due to a power cut by BESCOM.

Meanwhile, RCB recently announced a revised compensation package for the victims’ families. Under their new initiative, RCB Cares, the franchise has pledged INR 25 lakh to each bereaved family, alongside a long-term commitment to improving crowd safety and supporting fans.