The 4th edition of the Maharaja Cup faces uncertainty as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) awaits police clearance from the Karnataka police to host the state franchise-based T20 competition at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament is planned to run from August 11 to August 27. 

The clearance has not been obtained due to an ongoing investigation into the June 4 stampede killings, which occurred during RCB's victory parade day, outside the stadium premises. Large swaths of crowds gathered in the vicinity of the stadium in uncontrollable numbers, which quickly overwhelmed the law enforcement authorities, leading to the death of 11 innocent civilians. 

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KSCA on the lookout for alternative venues

In light of the tragic stampede incident, KSCA had previously announced that the Maharaja Cup would be held behind closed doors. Realising that the ongoing investigation would at some point act as a hurdle, KSCA had already made up its mind to shift the tournament outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

Alternative venues such as the Alur Cricket Ground, which is situated on the outskirts of the city, as well as the Wadeyar Ground in Mysuru, are being considered by the association at this stage. Though Alur is equipped with excellent drainage and infrastructure, the stadium lacks adequate seating capacity, and the lack of floodlights further adds to its woes. 

However, the Women's Maharani T20 Cup will go ahead as planned, and the Alur Cricket Ground will play host to all the fixtures. There was a proposal to host the final at  Chinnaswamy Stadium, but that seems highly unlikely with police approvals yet to come. Franchises have expressed their grievances to the governing body and have warned that the teams could face severe financial loss. Prior hotel bookings near the city center were made with the understanding that the tournament would be staged at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

This obstacle puts KSCA in a tight spot. The ongoing probe into the stampede killing can further jeopardize KSCA's ability to host future tournaments such as the Women's ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on September 30.

On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru witnessed history as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their first IPL title after an 18-year wait. The win ignited wild celebrations outside of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with thousands of fans and supporters coming to join in the celebrations. But the celebrations soon took a dark turn when there was a stampede near Gate 7, where 11 people were killed and dozens injured, including some teenagers.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was very saddened by the event, and he condoled the bereaved families. In his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar pondered how the long wait for RCB's first championship made the emotions of fans so much more heightened. He noted how if RCB had won in previous seasons, the celebrations would not have been so rabid. "If RCB had won the trophy in the initial years, there would not have been this flood of emotion," he said, pointing towards the special emotional frenzy in this victory.

"What a tragedy," Gavaskar lamented. “All those people wanted was a glimpse of the players… maybe even a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before… and wanted to see them and have a brief hello?” He was admitting that fans had assembled innocently, anticipating these moments with their heroes, but regretting how a celebration that was full of joy was full of chaos and loss. He stressed that while passion is natural, it needs to be balanced with caution to avoid such heartbreaking outcomes.

The Need for Responsible Celebrations and Better Crowd Management

Gavaskar called on organizers, officials, and supporters to reflect on this disaster and make sure that future celebrations for sport would consider safe environments first. He stressed the responsibility to implement proper crowd control measures, discipline, and planning, and to avoid the stampede risk involved in large public gatherings. Gavaskar remarked, enthusiasm can be a peril unless it is managed.

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This tragic episode serves as a powerful reminder that sporting triumphs, though joyous, must never come at the cost of human lives. As the cricketing community mourns the loss, Gavaskar’s reflections urge a shift towards safer, more structured celebrations that honor both the spirit of the game and the well-being of its fans.