BENGALURU, September 3 — The future of top-tier cricket in Bengaluru hangs in the balance following the June 4 stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives and injured dozens during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations. The tragedy has triggered a wave of administrative scrutiny, infrastructural reassessment, and what many are calling an undeclared ban on hosting major cricket events in the city.
The Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission, appointed to investigate the incident, concluded that the stadium was “unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings,” recommending structural changes and design modifications to ensure public safety. The report has since become a flashpoint between the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and the state government, each deflecting blame for the organizational lapses that led to the disaster.
In the aftermath, the government denied KSCA permission to host the Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament at Chinnaswamy, forcing organizers to shift the event to Mysuru under restricted crowd conditions. Similarly, stringent safety guidelines imposed ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup matches—such as demands for dedicated parking lots and crowd control infrastructure—led to the relocation of fixtures to Navi Mumbai. Critics argue that these impractical conditions amount to a de facto ban on high-attendance cricket events in Bengaluru.
The June 4 incident was not linked to a scheduled match but rather to a celebratory gathering that spiraled out of control. Nearly 300,000 fans descended on the stadium, many expecting free entry or passes, overwhelming security and emergency services. Despite the stadium’s five-decade history of hosting international matches without major incidents, the stampede has cast a long shadow over its viability as a venue for future events.
While domestic matches typically draw modest crowds, international fixtures are ticketed and planned well in advance, allowing for coordinated security measures. Stakeholders argue that the government’s response lacks nuance and risks sidelining Bengaluru from India’s cricketing map.
As the debate continues, the KSCA and cricketing fraternity await clarity on whether the city will be allowed to host future marquee events—or whether the June 4 tragedy will permanently alter Bengaluru’s sporting landscape.
