Months after the stampede tragedy, the ICC Women's World Cup was moved from Bengaluru to Mumbai.

Dubai: Bengaluru's cricketing faithful are paying the price for the joyous but sad celebration that followed Royal Challengers Bangalore's maiden IPL title in June. The city, which was due to host the opening match and possibly the final of the Women's World Cup, was dropped from the list of venues just weeks before the tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Friday that Mumbai will now replace Bengaluru as one of the four Indian host cities for the 50-over event starting on September 30. The tournament's co-hosts Sri Lanka will play the match in Colombo, while Guwahati has stepped in to host the high-profile curtain-raiser between India and Sri Lanka.

The ICC cited only "unforeseen circumstances" for the move of the games from the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium. But local media reports suggest that Karnataka police had refused to grant clearance for major matches at the venue. A judicial commission had earlier deemed the stadium “unsafe” after a stampede on June 4 that left 11 people dead and more than 50 injured during RCB’s victory parade.

The tragedy, which saw a 14-year-old fan crushed to death as thousands gathered at the stadium gates, dealt a blow to Indian cricket and sparked outrage across the country. For many, Bengaluru’s exclusion from the World Cup roster now appears to be a direct result of that fateful day.

The loss of hosting rights for Bengaluru is not just a sporting blow but an economic and reputational blow as well. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has long been a favourite for international matches, renowned for its atmosphere and enthusiastic following. 

While the ICC has refrained from directly linking its decision to RCB’s celebrations, the optics are hard to ignore. The Women’s World Cup was seen as an opportunity to showcase India’s growing interest in women’s cricket, with Bengaluru expected to play a central role. Instead, the city has been isolated, a reminder of how fan safety lapses can have lasting effects.

With the tournament counting down, the focus is now on how smoothly the relocated fixtures will be managed. For Bengaluru, the real issue is not just missing a few games, but how this setback changes its role in India’s cricketing calendar.