The 2026 IPL kicks off this year without much hullabaloo. The Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to cancel the usual opening ceremony, which feels like a huge party packed with cricket. It showcases Bollywood stars and a pretty wild atmosphere too. Fans always expect that big spectacle. But this time, things are different. The organizers want to show some respect and remember those affected by last year’s tragedy.

So the question arise why is the opening ceremony called off. Actually, after Royal Challengers Bangalore finally won their first IPL title in 2025, fans flooded the streets outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The huge crowd went out of control and a terrible stampede happened. In that sorrowful event, eleven people died that included a child. Many others ended up injured. It shocked everyone who follows the game.

Now, BCCI decided to skip the celebrations at the start of the tournament. Secretary Devajit Saikia said that, It is a way to stand with the families who lost loved ones and to honour the feelings of people in the city. “Due to last year’s tragic incident on June 4, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organising any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to that tragedy on June 4, 2025,” Saikia said.

On Saturday, the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 will focus on remembering those eleven fans. Last year, the festivities were celebrated with great grandeur, featuring stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Disha Patani. However, this time around, that glamour will be missed. The stadium will leave eleven seats empty for the entire season which is a simple yet moving gesture to mark the lives lost in that tragedy.