The scenes around M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, ahead of the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League (IPL), were what the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and Bengaluru City Police (BCP) had hoped for- people enthusiastically chanting “RCB… RCB…” but not in a frenzy. Clearly, everyone was chastened by the memory of last year’s stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations that claimed the lives of 11 fans.

The flow of spectators into the stadium was orderly, the police ensured there were no gatherings, everyone kept moving, and the crowd was responsive to directions from the police. There was some confusion among spectators due to changes in the entry gates, but it was managed quickly.