Royal Challengers Bangalore players clashed with each other (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Bengaluru: Ten months after the last Indian Premier League Cricket returned to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s home ground with renewed vigor on Saturday, with the match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium – and the matchday experience for fans all over again.Yet, amid the discussion, memories of last year’s tragedy resurfaced. 11 seats dedicated to those who lost their lives during RCB’s victory celebrations stood at the front – enclosed within a picket fence and decorated with floral motifs against a white background – a sober reminder in a charged atmosphere.Outside the stadium, activity quickly increased. As soon as the gates opened at around 3.30 pm, spectators started arriving, many arriving early enough to get into the modified entry system without any last-minute hassles.The excitement was not limited to local fans. Curtis P, an Infosys employee from Florida, was one of a group of five colleagues from across the United States who planned their travel around the match.“I’m a big fan of cricket and have been coming to India to watch games for some time. We had planned a working visit and timed it to coincide with this match,” said Curtis.For many regulars, the changes turned out to be a seamless experience. Vishwanath Reddy, a retired army officer and long-time attendee, was impressed.He said, “In more than three decades, this was probably the most seamless entry experience we have had. The police ensured that only valid ticket holders were allowed near the gate and people were allowed to move forward instead of allowing crowds to form. I hope this will become the norm.”However, not everyone had a smooth start. For some people, unfamiliarity with the updated security protocols caused discomfort.Vinaya V, who had come with her daughter Myra, found the restrictions disappointing. “We didn’t know that digital watches were not allowed. We had to walk a long distance to deposit it at the baggage counter and then return,” he said.RCB fan Santosh Udupa also had a similar experience. “I was shocked when they said I couldn’t take my keys. After some discussion, they allowed me to keep my house keys, but due to censoring I had to surrender my car keys,” he said.Many others, who ignored the fine print on prohibited items, were seen discussing with security personnel after being stopped from carrying items like bags, perfumes and cosmetics inside.Despite these minor setbacks, the overall system improved significantly. Over 2,000 personnel, including city police, CCB, traffic and civil defense personnel, were deployed to control the crowd.The mock drill conducted over the last 10 days appears to have been a success, with entry points largely functioning without any glitches and security personnel ensuring there is no loitering around the stadium premises. With access via Cubbon Road largely streamlined, Queens Road was free of its usual match day crowds.Before the start of the game, the packed stadium stopped in honor of the victims. Both teams and fans observed a minute’s silence while the message “Forever in our hearts” was displayed on a large screen – a moment of collective remembrance before cricket took center stage.See also: ipl score