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As a mark of respect to the 11 lives lost last year, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru players will be wearing black armbands in their IPL 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
11 seats in the Chinnaswamy Stadium were kept unoccupied as a mark of respect to the lives lost last year during RCB's victory celebrations. (RCB)Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are wearing black armbands and 11 seats at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will remain unoccupied on Saturday in the IPL 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The decision was taken by the stadium authorities as a mark of respect to the 11 lives lost last year on June 4.
After winning their maiden IPL title in the 2025 season, a stampede occurred during RCB's victory celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium, leaving 11 people, including a minor dead. Keeping in mind of what happened last year, the IPL 2026 Opening Ceremony and the RCB Unbox event was also scrapped by the authorities at the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
Ahead of the clash, the RCB stated that the players will wear black armbands during the match and practice jerseys bearing no.11. “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,” RCB said.
“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,” the statement further added.
RCB's special tribute to fans
In another lasting gesture, RCB will keep 11 seats at the Chinnaswamy unoccupied for the entire season. “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 franchise further said.
Earlier on the day, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) unveiled a memorial plaque near the inner entrance of the stadium, as a mark of respect to the 11 lives lost.
RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 toss report
RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first in the tournament opener against SRH. While SRH have handed uncapped Salil Arora a debut cap, RCB have three new faces in their line-up. While Abhinandan Singh and Jacob Duffy have made it to the playing XI, England's Jacob Bethell will come in as an Impact sub.
RCB vs SRH playing XIs in IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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