Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru players will wear jersey number 11 during the warm-up before their first home game of the season and black armbands during the match, while 11 seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain empty as a tribute to the fans who lost their lives last year, Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Menon announced at the franchise’s pre-season press conference on Tuesday.
“This is a tribute to our fans who will always be a part of our journey,” he said.
Menon also explained the extensive preparations undertaken to ensure a safe and smooth matchday experience for fans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the defending champions will play five home games.
“I would like to thank the government for making this possible. It has been a long journey since June 4 and everything has been done on a war footing. We have worked to follow the SOPs given by the court and ensure all protocols are in place.”
From an operational perspective, Menon explained the revised framework for the stadium and the responsibilities of the stakeholders involved.
Menon also explained the revised framework for the stadium. As per the updated agreements between BCCI, KSCA and RCB, the state association will act as the lead organizer and the franchise will implement the standard operating procedures, including contingency planning protocols, and indemnify any breach of the stadium agreement.
These SOPs will be followed by both the franchise and the state association, with specific guidelines also in place for victory parades.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has also introduced several new crowd control measures inside and around the stadium.
“We have significantly strengthened crowd management measures. We have implemented AI-driven CCTV solutions throughout the stadium, including inside, concourse and surrounding areas, powered by an AI tool called Jarvis. This system provides real-time alerts, including stand-specific crowd counts, to ensure better monitoring and control. These CCTV feeds will also be accessible to the Commissioner’s Office for real-time monitoring.”
“We have invested around ₹7 crore in improving the crowd management infrastructure, including multiple baggage scanners and command centers.”
The stadium will also revise entry and exit protocols as well as fan movement protocols based on recommendations from local authorities. Tickets for the first game will be available on Tuesday, March 24th at 4:00 p.m.
Ticket holders are also entitled to subway access on match days. Parking can be booked in advance and all stadium gates will open four hours before the game.
He also confirmed that the franchise has decided not to host the unboxing event this year as its focus remains firmly on ensuring the game day experience runs smoothly.
Bobat talks about Yash Dayal’s unavailability and squad strength
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Director of Cricket Mo Bobat also addressed the media and confirmed that Yash Dayal will not be included in the squad immediately as he is attending to personal matters.
Bobat also provided an update on Josh Hazlewood’s availability and noted that the franchise remains in constant contact with Cricket Australia.
“With Josh it’s quite simple. He has missed a fair bit of cricket through injury and we are in constant contact with Cricket Australia. Once they are happy with his fitness he will join us. A strong relationship with the associations makes a big difference in situations like this.”
Bobat also spoke about the composition of the squad and the flexibility of the squad to adapt to different situations during the tournament.
“We have tried to build a squad that can adapt to different conditions and situations, so flexibility was always an important part of our considerations. We went into the auction prepared for different scenarios and with options like Rasikh and Mangesh in mind. Of course this is a setback, but we are not unprepared for it.”
Looking ahead to the season, Bobat added: “The goal now is simple: start this season the way we ended the last one. We have a lot of respect for every team and right now all our focus is on the first game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.”
