‘Red alert’ in Bengaluru: City gripped by IPL final fever as RCB looks for second consecutive win

The Garden City is set to be engulfed by a sea of red on Sunday as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play their second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) final, where they will lock horns with the Gujarat Titans in a high-voltage title clash.

The celebratory mood had already begun on Saturday, as the streets of Central Bengaluru were awash in red with street vendors commencing sales of jerseys and accessories. On the other hand, major pubs and restaurants across the city are witnessing early bookings.

Interestingly, short-term rental houses are also seeing increased bookings, as many screenings have been called off in the city following an advisory issued by the Bengaluru City Police (BCP).

Decorated streets

The support for the RCB team, as many cricket analysts put it, is unmatched. Such statements stem from the way Bengaluru’s streets come alive during the IPL season and how the stadium fills up every time the home team plays.

The team’s talismanic batsman, Virat Kohli, who has been with the franchise since its inception, has emerged as the most revered player, with jerseys bearing his name flooding both the stadium and the streets. On Sunday, the scene will be no different, as most people were seen buying jerseys near the stadium on Saturday.

In addition, several shops have put up posters supporting the team, along with RCB flags. Posts have emerged on social media showing people covering their entire cars with RCB stickers and images of players. All these vehicles are set to hit the roads on Sunday. However, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has clarified that no rallies will be allowed in the city.

Flying to Ahmedabad

The final is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Hundreds of fans are flying to Gujarat from Bengaluru to witness the match live.

Among them are members of Namma Team RCB, a fan club that has been actively engaging supporters throughout the IPL season. Preetham Karigar, founder of the club, told The Hindu that 75 members of the group have booked tickets and will be watching the match together.

“We anticipated our team reaching the final just by the way they have been playing this season. Many of them left on Saturday, and a few of us will leave today,” he said.

With this, fans can expect the cheering banners usually seen at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to make an appearance in Ahmedabad as well, as this is the club that decks out the stadium with banners supporting the home team.

House parties

Anil Kumar, an ardent RCB follower, said that his entire office team has booked a short-term rental for a day and will be watching the match together.

“We will meet early and prepare dinner and other dishes before the start of the match. We can watch the match just as we do in restaurants and pubs, but at a much lower cost, as bookings have become expensive,” he said.

Similarly, many fans are organising house parties this time.

“House parties are much better than going out, getting stuck in traffic, and now adding rain to the list. It will be a peaceful watch followed by good conversation about the match,” said Manoj Kashyap, another fan.

Restaurant bookings

The owner of a bar and restaurant in Indiranagar told The Hindu that reservations had already been exhausted, with bookings beginning as early as Friday. This was the case with most establishments checked by The Hindu.

“We are resorting to reservations based on floor capacity because crowds can become difficult to manage on such occasions. This can also lead to issues with the police,” the owner told The Hindu.

In addition, the BCP has directed all establishments to facilitate screenings only for patrons and to obtain prior permission for any outdoor screening so that the required deployment can be arranged after assessing the venues.

BCP’s busy week

If the home team emerges victorious, the celebratory mood is expected to engulf the entire city, which is exactly what fans are hoping for. However, for the Bengaluru police, it will be a busy week, with political developments also unfolding in the state. The force is expected to prepare for two to three major events within a span of three days.

Planning is already underway. The Bengaluru Traffic Police will impose restrictions, including the closure of certain stretches of road. Enhanced drunk-driving checks and strict action against reckless driving will also be implemented.

The BCP is pushing for responsible celebrations and has launched a social media campaign featuring posts and videos urging people to celebrate peacefully. The police are also encouraging celebrations at home rather than crowds spilling onto the streets.