Bengaluru: Ten months after the last Indian Premier League match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, cricket returned to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home turf on Saturday with renewed vigour — and a reworked match-day experience for fans.Yet, amid the buzz, memories of last year’s tragedy lingered. The 11 seats dedicated to those who lost their lives during RCB’s victory celebrations stood out — encased within a picket fence and adorned with floral motifs against a white backdrop — a quiet reminder in a charged atmosphere.Outside the stadium, activity picked up early. Once the gates opened around 3.30 pm, spectators began streaming in, many arriving well in advance to navigate the revamped entry system without last-minute hassle.The excitement wasn’t limited to local fans. Curtis P, an Infosys employee from Florida, was among a group of five colleagues from across the United States who had planned their visit around the match.“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,” Curtis said.For several regulars, the changes translated into a smoother experience. Vishwanath Reddy, a retired Army officer and long-time attendee, was impressed.“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,” he said.However, not everyone had a seamless start. For some, unfamiliarity with updated security protocols led to inconvenience.Vinaya V, who had come with her daughter Mairah, found the restrictions frustrating. “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,” she said.RCB fan Santosh Udupa had a similar experience. “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,” he said.Many others, who had overlooked the fine print on prohibited items, were seen in discussions with security personnel after being stopped from carrying belongings such as bags, perfumes and cosmetics inside.Despite these minor hiccups, the overall arrangements marked a significant improvement. More than 2,000 personnel — including city police, CCB, traffic and civil defence staff — were deployed to manage the crowds.Mock drills conducted over the past 10 days appeared to have paid off, with entry points functioning largely without glitches and security personnel ensuring there was no loitering around the stadium premises. With access largely streamlined through Cubbon Road, Queen’s Road was free of its usual match-day congestion.Before the start of play, the packed stadium paused to honour the victims. Both teams and fans observed a minute’s silence, while the message “Forever in our hearts” was displayed across the big screens — a moment of collective remembrance before the cricket took centre stage.
