In the aftermath of a tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made the decision to relocate the upcoming one-day series scheduled between India A and Australia A from the city to Rajkot.Â
The stampede occurred a day after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) win in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) final.
Over 2 lakh fans gathered outside the stadium to be a part of the victory parade. Lack of proper communication and inadequate supervision turned the situation chaotic. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as all of this turned into the shape of a stampede. Several fans collapsed and 11 died.
BCCI Drops Chinnaswamy Stadium as Host for India A vs Australia A SeriesÂ
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which manages the Chinnaswamy Stadium, has come under intense scrutiny since the tragedy. People have pointed to poor planning and lack of communication with fans that led to the disaster.Â
While the KSCA treasurer and secretary resigned, the damage had already been done.
In light of the incident, the BCCI has taken the unprecedented step of removing Bengaluru from the hosting list for the series between India A and Australia A, scheduled from November 13 to 19. The one-day matches, originally slated to be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, will now take place at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
However, the KSCA president Raghuram Bhat denied that the venue had been changed because of the stampede.
Bengaluru Stampede Aftermath Puts Women’s ODI World Cup Matches in Chinnaswamy in Doubt
For Bengaluru, this is a massive blow. The city, known for its passionate cricket fanbase, was gearing up to host high-profile games, including matches of Women's ODI World Cup 2025.Â
According to a report by the Times of India, the recent stampede incident and the resulting damage to infrastructure could force the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider a backup venue.
The chaos last week left a visible impact on the stadium itself. Sections of the compound wall were broken, railings were bent or dislodged, staircases suffered cracks, and basic sanitation facilities took a hit. Before the stadium can be deemed fit to host matches, substantial repair work and structural checks are expected.
Earlier this month, the ICC had announced that the Chinnaswamy Stadium will host India’s tournament opener on September 30, the semifinal on October 30, and possibly even the final on November 2 unless Pakistan qualify.
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