IPL 2026: Chinnaswamy stadium observes one minute silence to honour stampede victims

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New Delhi: The entire M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru observed one minute silence to honour the 11 victims who lost their lives during a stampede last year. IPL 2026 began on Saturday with a game between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and before the start of the match, players of both the teams, officials and spectators stood up honouring the victims of the tragedy.

During RCB’s 2025 title-winning celebrations at the famous Bengaluru stadium, as many as 11 fans lost their lives and many others were left injured as a huge crowd assembled at the stadium which could not be controlled by the authorities leading to a tragic stampede. People in lakhs had visited to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars but what followed was a tragic incident.

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Meanwhile in the opening clash of 19th edition of the league, RCB won the toss first and invited SRH to bat first. Before the players entered the cricket ground, they stood behind the boundary rope to offer their condolences for the 11 fans who died.

Earlier as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives, the entire RCB contingent wore a 11 number jersey during their practice session, as announced earlier. Along with this, 11 seats, draped in RCB flags, were kept permanently empty at the Chinnaswamy stadium as mark of remembrance of the deceased.

Meanwhile, RCB would be aiming to continue their dominance at the home ground with a win at the start while SRH would also be hoping to begin their campaign with a victory.