RCB honors victims with special tribute during IPL opener at Chinnaswamy | Cricket News –

BENGALURU: Ten months after the last Indian Premier League match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, cricket returned to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Stadium on Saturday with renewed vigor – and a reworked match-day experience for fans.However, amid the noise, memories of last year’s tragedy lingered. The 11 benches reserved for those who lost their lives during RCB’s victory celebrations – covered by a picket fence and decorated with floral motifs against a white background – stood out, a calm reminder in a tense atmosphere.

Off the field, activities returned early. Once the gates opened at around 3.30pm, spectators began to trickle in, with many arriving well in advance to navigate through the rolling entry system without any last-minute hassles.

The excitement was not limited to local fans. Curtis B, an Infosys employee from Florida, was among a group of five colleagues from across the United States who planned to visit during the match period.“I am a huge cricket fan and have been coming to India to watch matches for a while now. We have planned a business trip and timed it to coincide with this match,” Curtis said.For many regulars, the changes have translated into a smoother experience.

Vishwanath Reddy, a retired Army officer and longtime attendee, was impressed.“For over three decades, this has probably been the smoothest entry experience we’ve had. The police ensured that only valid ticket holders were allowed to approach the gates, and kept people moving rather than allowing crowds to build up. I hope this becomes the norm,” he said.However, not everyone had a smooth start. For some, unfamiliarity with updated security protocols has created inconvenience.Vinaya V, who came with her daughter Meera, found the restrictions frustrating. “We did not know that digital watches were not allowed,” she said. “We had to walk a long distance to deposit them at the baggage counter and then come back.”RCB fan Santosh Uduba had a similar experience. “I was surprised when they said I couldn’t carry my keys. After some discussion, they allowed me my house keys, but I had to deposit my car keys because of the sensors,” he said.Many others, who ignored the fine print on the banned items, were seen discussing with security personnel after being banned from carrying belongings such as bags, perfumes and cosmetics inside.Despite these minor drawbacks, overall arrangements have improved significantly. More than 2,000 personnel – including city police, China Construction Bank, traffic and civil defense personnel – were deployed to manage the crowds.The mock drills conducted over the past 10 days appear to have paid off, with entry points working largely without any glitches and security personnel making sure there was no loitering around the stadium premises. With access greatly simplified via Cubbon Road, Queen’s Road is now free of the usual match day congestion.Before the start of the match, the stadium stands stopped to honor the victims. Both teams and fans observed a minute’s silence, while the message “Forever in Our Hearts” was projected across the big screens – a moment of collective remembrance before cricket took center stage.See also: IPL points