Bengaluru: Fans heading to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the opening Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Saturday have been advised to strictly follow security guidelines, including a detailed list of prohibited items, as cricket returns to the venue after nearly a year.

IPL 2026 is set to kick off today with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) set to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad, while GT will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their first game of the IPL 2026 season on March 31 in Mullanpur.

As per the guidelines, items banned inside the stadium include alcohol, cameras and binoculars, lighters and matchboxes, knives and sharp objects, petrol or diesel, power banks, pendrives, food items, weapons, backpacks, inflammable materials, selfie sticks, umbrellas, helmets, pens, laptops, tablets, bottles, thermos flasks, cigarettes, bidis, non-functional electronic gadgets, perfumes, gels, toys (including toy guns), and gutka or supari.

Authorities have also cautioned that “any suspicious-looking objects will be seized” and urged fans to “please co-operate with security staff for smooth entry.”

The strict measures come in the backdrop of last year’s tragedy, when 11 people lost their lives, and several others were injured in a stampede outside the stadium during the victory celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Following the incident in June 2025, cricket activities at the venue were suspended, and major tournaments, including the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup and the KSCA Maharaja Trophy, were relocated due to safety concerns. The stadium also missed out on hosting matches during the T20 World Cup.

After a series of safety reviews, the Karnataka cabinet approved the return of IPL matches at the venue earlier this year, based on recommendations from a government-appointed expert committee. Subsequently, the Karnataka State Cricket Association secured permission from Home Minister G Parmeshwara to host IPL 2026 matches, including playoffs and the final.

KSCA Vice President Sujit Somsundar said extensive safety and infrastructure upgrades have been completed in coordination with multiple departments, including police, public works, fire services, and medical authorities. These include widening entry and exit gates, improving crowd flow areas, and strengthening emergency medical response systems.

An expert panel led by Maheshwar Rao inspected the stadium and cleared it for operations. The venue has now been permitted to host matches at its full capacity of around 33,000 spectators.