IPL 2026: RCB, KSCA to pay tribute to the stampede tragedy 11 victims
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to start on March 28. The tournament opener will be played between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Last year, the venue witnessed a tragic incident on June 4, 2025, when 11 lives were lost outside of the stadium due to a stampede during RCB’s maiden IPL title celebrations. Now reports suggest that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the franchise are taking steps to pay tribute to the young victims.
The KSCA will place a memorial plaque near the stadium's inner entrance. They also establish a permanent space for remembrance within the venue that witnessed both joy and sorrow. Additionally, 11 seats inside the stadium will be permanently reserved in memory of those who lost their lives.
Even on the match days, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will conduct tributes before the commencement of play. The visiting squad is anticipated to participate in the commemoration after the names of the victims are shown inside the stadium, and there is a minute of silence. The players will also wear black armbands and train with the Number 11 jersey.
“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.
Yash Dayal ruled out of the IPL 2026
RCB has suffered a major setback ahead of the tournament’s commencement. Mohammad Bobat, Director of Cricket at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has confirmed that Yash Dayal will not play in IPL 2026 and will not join the team this year. He said,
“Yash Dayal will not be part of RCB this season. It was decided in his best interests.”
“He’s going through a personal situation. He remains under contract.”
Yash Dayal was signed by RCB in 2024. He took 15 wickets in 2024, while he picked 15 wickets during the winning season. It will be interesting to see whether the RCB management is looking for a replacement for him or will manage the team this season with the remaining squad.
