RCB banned from IPL 2026? Bengaluru stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium sparks speculation

Eleven people lost their lives and several others were injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory parade in Bengaluru. The event, meant to mark the team’s first-ever IPL title win, turned into a stampede due to overcrowding and poor crowd control. Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicated a lack of proper exits, emergency medical services, and coordination between organisers and authorities.

Police file FIR, arrests and resignations follow

The Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR against RCB, the event management firm DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Police arrested Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s head of marketing and an employee of its parent company Diageo, on Friday.

Two KSCA officials — Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer ES Jairam — resigned on Saturday amid mounting political and public pressure. Several victims’ families have also moved court, demanding strict action and compensation.

BCCI says it was a franchise event

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that the parade was a franchise-led programme and not organised by the board. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said it was “an unfortunate incident”. “At some stage BCCI will have to do something. We cannot be a silent spectator,” Saikia told Cricbuzz. “It was a private affair of RCB, but we at the BCCI are responsible for cricket in India, and we will try to ensure such incidents do not recur in future,” he added.

The IPL is the BCCI’s most valuable property, and the incident has placed the board in a difficult position. Calls for accountability are growing, but punishing a franchise could carry major commercial and legal consequences.

Ban rumours surface as investigation continues

Speculation about a potential ban on RCB for the 2026 IPL season has surfaced on social media. In IPL's history, banning a franchise is not new. There is a precedent of team ban, including the temporary suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in 2015 after spot-fixing charges.

However, the current matter involves loss of lives, and any decision to act will depend on the findings of the Karnataka government’s ongoing investigation. If gross negligence is proven, BCCI may face pressure to act.

No BCCI action yet

As of now, there is no official word from BCCI on any punitive measure against RCB. The investigation continues, and the outcome will likely determine what steps, if any, are taken.