Cricket made its return on Saturday at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking the beginning of another thrilling IPL season.
After a hiatus of nearly ten months, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) took the field at their home ground.
However, the atmosphere surrounding the match this time was not merely filled with excitement; memories of last year’s tragic incident were also fresh in the hearts of the spectators.
Within the stadium, 11 seats were specially designated in memory of those who lost their lives during the celebrations following an RCB victory last year.
These seats were cordoned off by a small fence and adorned with floral decorations set against a white background. Before the match commenced, a minute of silence was observed throughout the stadium, while the message “Forever in our hearts” was displayed on the giant screens.
Fans Arrive Early as New Entry System Introduced
There was considerable bustle outside the stadium on match day. As the gates opened around 3:30 PM, crowds of spectators began streaming in. Several changes had been implemented in the security and entry systems this time to ensure better crowd management.
Curtis P, an Infosys employee visiting from Florida, USA, arrived to watch the match along with four of his colleagues. He remarked, “I’m a huge cricket fan and have been coming to India to watch games for a while. We had a work trip planned and timed it to coincide with this match.”
Many long-time spectators also praised the arrangements made this time around. Retired Army Officer Vishwanath Reddy, who has been attending matches at the stadium for many years, said, “In over three decades, this was possibly the smoothest entry experience for us. The police ensured only valid ticket holders were allowed near the gates and kept people moving instead of letting crowds build up. I hope this becomes the norm.”
However, some individuals did face minor inconveniences due to the new regulations. Vinaya V, who had come to watch the match with her daughter, was required to deposit her digital watch.
She stated, “We weren’t aware that digital watches weren’t allowed. We had to walk quite a distance to deposit it at the baggage counter and then return.” Another RCB fan, Santosh Udupa, reported a similar issue.
He stated, “I was caught off guard when they said I couldn’t carry my keys. After some discussion, they allowed my house keys, but I had to deposit my car keys because of the sensors.”
Tight Security and Large Deployment at Stadium
This time, security both inside and outside the stadium was kept exceptionally tight. Over 2,000 police and security personnel were deployed, including members of the City Police, Traffic Police, CCB, and Civil Defence.
Several mock drills were also conducted over the past ten days, resulting in significantly improved arrangements at the entry points. Most spectators were directed to enter via Cubbon Road, thereby preventing the traffic congestion typically witnessed on Queen’s Road.
