The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was bathed in a sea of red on Sunday as it hosted a historic double-header of sorts: a high-octane southern derby and a deeply emotional tribute to Karnataka’s two greatest sporting icons. match 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) And Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Served as the perfect backdrop for a historic moment in Indian cricket history. The atmosphere was full of nostalgia before the first ball was bowled in this high-stakes encounter Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officially immortalized the legacy of Rahul Dravid And Anil Kumble Within the same walls where his journeys began.
KSCA honors Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble with stand-end names at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
In a touching ceremony preceding the evening festivities, KSCA officially unveiled the eponymous bowling end of the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The old BEML End at the far corner of the ground has been renamed as the Rahul Dravid End, while the historic Pavilion End will now forever be known as the Anil Kumble End. The unveiling was overseen by KSCA President and former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasadwith the Vice President Sujit Somsundar.
The ceremony was a family affair, reflecting both players’ deep roots in Bengaluru. Dravid’s mother Pushpa and brother Vijay were present at their other house to witness the honoring of ‘Deewar’. An emotional Dravid commented that the stadium had given him “whatever i am today” Meanwhile, Kumble’s wife… Consciousnessand their children, Mayas, Aruni, And Swasti Tributes paid to the man who took 956 international wickets. The gesture follows KSCA’s February announcement, which also included naming a stand after the pioneering female cricketer Shantha RangaswamiEnsuring that the architecture of Karnataka cricket now reflects its legendary history.
A true tribute to two of India’s finest cricket legends
🎥 M Chinnaswamy Stadium officially inaugurated the Anil Kumble End and Rahul Dravid End in honor of their service to Karnataka and Indian cricket.#TATAIPL | @kscaofficial1 | @anilkumble1074 pic.twitter.com/vbDE9Nw7Cz
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) 5 April 2026
Also read: Tim David’s masterclass leads RCB to emphatic win over CSK in IPL 2026, fans react
RCB beats CSK in the final South Indian derby
Once the tributes were over, a modern batting masterclass was witnessed at the end from Kumble and Dravid as RCB defeated CSK by 43 runs in a record-breaking performance. Sent in to bat, Bengaluru posted an impressive score of 250/3, which is the highest total of the 2026 season so far. The foundation was laid by Phil Salt (46) and Devdutt Padikkal (50), but the real massacre began when tim david And Rajat Patidar Unite.
tim davidPlayer of the Match, played an innings for the ages, scoring an unbeaten 70 off just 25 balls. His innings included a 106-metre long six that blew off the roof of the stadium, which was part of a 30-run demolition. jamie overton In the 19th over. captain Rajat Patidar Provided exceptional support by playing a stormy innings of 48* runs in 19 balls. In reply, CSK had to struggle against a disciplined attack from RCB. Despite a brilliant innings of 50 Sarfaraz Khan and late cameo Prashant Veer (43), the visiting team was all out for 207 runs in 19.4 overs. it was also late at night Bhuvneshwar KumarWho claimed 3/41 and became the first bowler to reach the milestone of 200 IPL wickets, he achieved the feat on a ground adorned with the names of legends.