Bengaluru / New Delhi – June 10, 2025:
In the wake of the tragic crowd crush at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4—which claimed 11 lives and injured over 75 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebration—the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the relocation of the India A vs South Africa A one‑day series from Bengaluru to Rajkot (criczop.com, insidesport.in).
📰 Details of the Shift
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The ODI series, originally scheduled for November 13–19, 2025 at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, will now be held at Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (wisden.com).
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The two preceding four‑day “unofficial Test” matches will remain at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru (wisden.com).
⚠️ Reasons Behind the Move
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Although the BCCI did not cite official reasons, the decision follows intense scrutiny of KSCA’s operational capabilities after the stampede and subsequent structural damage to the stadium (insidesport.in).
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KSCA President Raghuram Bhat maintains that the relocation is unrelated to the incident, but the timing and internal resignations suggest otherwise (insidesport.in).
🔧 Administrative Fallout
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KSCA Secretary A. Shankar and Treasurer E.S. Jairam stepped down on moral grounds following the tragedy (en.wikipedia.org).
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A judicial commission led by Justice D’Cunha, supported by retired IAS and IPS officers, has been appointed to investigate the stampede; KSCA land lease agreements are also under review (en.wikipedia.org).
🌍 Broader Calendar Impact
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The looming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup schedule may also be affected, with speculation about shifting matches away from Chinnaswamy Stadium if stadium repairs do not progress swiftly (cricket.com).
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Across the 2025–26 home season, the BCCI has begun reassessing venue readiness and safety protocols amid Bengaluru’s uncertainty (criczop.com).
Disclaimer: This article is based on BCCI announcements and media reports regarding the stadium incident and associated administrative actions. No formal inquiry has concluded, and all decisions remain under review. The relocation does not imply any legal ruling or culpability.
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