Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was taken to honour the 11 people who died in a stampede in Bengaluru last year during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL title.

He added that while the traditional opening spectacle has been dropped, the tournament will conclude with a grand closing ceremony on May 31, the day of the final.

Last year’s IPL opened with a high-profile event at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani.

The move has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans have praised the gesture as respectful and responsible, while others say the absence of the opening ceremony will take away from the tournament’s festive atmosphere.