RCB players will wear black armbands in IPL 2026 Opener vs SRH - Reason explained

Royal Challengers Bengaluru players will wear black armbands during their first IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday to pay tribute to 11 fans who lost their lives in the stampede outside the venue following the franchise's title win last year.

"Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the eleven members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4. As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys bearing the number 11 during the warm-up, followed by black armbands during the match," RCB said in a statement.

"In a lasting gesture of remembrance, eleven seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, serving as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family," the statement added.

Several people were also injured in the incident outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading to the suspension of the venue.  The stadium was declared unfit for matches, and the Women's ODI World Cup games were shifted to other grounds. The venue was also not considered for the 2027 T20 World Cup. However, the Karnataka state government lifted the ban after the state association implemented the recommendations of the expert committee.

In March, the home minister of Karnataka, G Parmeshwara, declared the stadium fit for IPL games, including playoffs and finals.

KSCA completed the safety and improvements suggested by the police, PWD, fire force, and medical authorities.

The Maheshwar Rao-led committee visited the stadium for inspections. M Chinnaswamy is allowed to accommodate 33,000 fans after implementing the required measures.

The RCB vs SRH match is expected to be a trilling contest. Rajat Patidar and Ishan Kishan are the two captains. Virat Kohli, the leading run-scorer, will also be in focus.