Karnataka’s premier T20 competition, the Maharaja Trophy, won’t be held in Bengaluru this year.
Instead, the 2025 edition is set to take place entirely in Mysuru from August 11 to 28, after the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was deemed unfit for large public gatherings.
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This shift comes in the wake of the tragic June 4 stampede, which resulted in 11 deaths and triggered a series of safety reviews and legal proceedings.
Maharaja Trophy 2025 moved away from Chinnaswamy Stadium
The tournament’s relocation traces back to a major incident that shook the state. During Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebration at Chinnaswamy, a stampede outside the gates killed 11 people and left over 50 injured.
In response, a judicial committee led by Justice (Retd.) Michael D'Cunha investigated the event and flagged the stadium as “unsafe” for hosting large-scale events.
Following that, Bengaluru police refused permission for the Maharaja Trophy matches to go ahead at the venue. Multiple issues were cited- fire-safety violations, disruption due to monsoon session of the legislature and ongoing legal inquiries.
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Where will the 2025 Maharaja Trophy matches be played?
All matches will now be held at the Wadeyar Stadium in Mysuru. This marks a rare departure from tradition as it is only the third time in 12 seasons that the competition is fully moving out of Bengaluru.
The last time this happened was back in 2015 and 2016. Over the past two seasons, the tournament was held exclusively in Bengaluru due to broadcasters’ preferences and the stadium’s quick-drain infrastructure.
But Mysuru now has to prepare quickly. The KSCA has started setting up temporary stands and pitch preparation zones. Importantly, no fans will be allowed in stadiums, just as was planned earlier for Bengaluru.
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How are the franchises responding to the venue shift?
The move has come as a surprise to several teams. Many franchises, except the Mysore Warriors, were already training at different venues around Bengaluru.
Now, they have to revise logistics, travel plans, and accommodation, all within a short timeframe. With the tournament less than a week away, it’s a race against the clock.