Bengaluru : The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been deemed unsafe and unfit for large-scale events, according to the findings of a judicial commission led by Justice John Michael Cunha. This follows a deadly stampede incident on June 4, during a celebration event organized by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to commemorate their maiden IPL title win.
The tragic chaos near the stadium claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured. In the aftermath, conflict emerged between Karnataka Police, the State Cricket Association, and the state government, each blaming the other. However, RCB’s franchise has been held primarily accountable, especially for promoting the event heavily on social media without securing prior police permission.
Though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had no involvement in the June 4 event, the panel’s declaration poses a serious challenge for Indian cricket’s governing body. The stadium’s structural design and crowd-handling capacity have been criticized as inadequate, rendering it unsuitable for major sporting events.
This development has cast uncertainty over the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled to be hosted in India this September. The opening match and one of the semi-finals were slated to take place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the BCCI may now be forced to revise the tournament schedule. The issue is further compounded by the lack of another major international stadium in Karnataka outside of Bengaluru.
The future of IPL matches at the stadium—especially for RCB in the 2026 season—is also in doubt, as the commission’s findings raise critical questions about the stadium’s viability as a top-tier venue.
The report’s implications are significant, and both BCCI and RCB now face mounting pressure to respond and ensure the safety of fans at future events.
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