Royal Challengers Bengaluru [Source: AFP] Royal Challengers Bengaluru have taken a special step to honour the victims of the Chinnaswamy Stampede ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). The defending champions RCB will play against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of the 19th edition of the IPL on Saturday, March 28. This match will also carry emotional significance as the team and the Karnataka State Cricket Association plan a tribute for the victims.RCB’s first title turned into a tragedyLast year, RCB won their first IPL trophy. The victory celebrations, however, turned into a tragic event. During the trophy parade outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, 11 people lost their lives and more than 30 people were injured in a stampede. A very large crowd had gathered near the stadium to celebrate RCB’s historic win. The police present at the venue found it difficult to control such a huge crowd, and as a result, a stampede took place.RCB announced financial support for victims’ familiesAfter some time, RCB came forward to support the families of the victims. Nearly three months after the incident, the franchise announced financial aid of Rs 25 lakh for each of the families of the 11 fans who lost their lives. In an emotional statement, the franchise accepted the seriousness of the tragedy and showed support for the families who were grieving.Also Read: 3 Players In RCB IPL Squad Who Might Not Play A Single Match In 2026 SeasonAhead of the IPL 2026 season, RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association announced a special tribute for the victims. Both organisations have planned steps to honour the memory of the victims, including a 14-year-old who lost their life in the incident.Before the opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the KSCA will unveil a memorial plaque near the inner entrance of the stadium, close to the mural. The purpose of this tribute is to create a permanent place of remembrance inside the stadium, which has seen both celebration and tragedy, as reported by TOI.KSCA issues official statement on memorial for tragic incident victimsConfirming KSCA's plans, president Venkatesh Prasad told TOI, "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." On the seats being marked, Prasad refused to share details and said, "It's a joint decision between the KSCA and the franchise since they are an integral part of the Chinnaswamy Stadium," he added.In another gesture, 11 seats inside the stadium will be permanently reserved in memory of the people who lost their lives. These seats will never be sold for any matches, including international matches. The seats will likely be located together in a premium stand so that the area can remain closed as a mark of respect.Meanwhile, this will also be the first competitive match played at the stadium after the incident. RCB will play five home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, and the remaining two home matches will be played at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in IPL 2026.Also Read: BCCI Announces India Squad For South Africa T20Is; Mumbai Indians Star Dropped
