What began as a jubilant celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 win turned tragic on Wednesday, June 4, when a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured 47 others. Thousands had gathered to witness the team’s victory lap after their maiden IPL title win in 18 years, but the overwhelming crowd led to chaos and catastrophe.
RCB star Virat Kohli, who led the team’s lap of honour inside a packed stadium, expressed heartbreak over the tragedy. Sharing the team’s official statement on Instagram, Kohli added a personal message:
“At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted 💔”
According to reports, the stampede occurred when a temporary slab over a drain near the stadium collapsed under the weight of fans. The sudden fall caused panic, triggering a deadly stampede. Despite restricted entry via passes, over two lakh supporters reportedly gathered near and around the stadium, far exceeding its 35,000 capacity.
The event, which had just begun, was cut short to 20 minutes once organisers were alerted to the developing situation. RCB released a statement saying they immediately modified the event in line with the advice from local authorities. All RCB players and support staff, including coach Andy Flower and mentor Dinesh Karthik, were present. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who had earlier welcomed the team at the airport, also joined the event.
Addressing fans inside the stadium, an emotional Kohli said:
“It’s no longer ‘Ee Saala Cup Namde’—it’s ‘Ee Saala Cup Namdu’. We’ve done it.
This win isn’t just for the players—it’s for the fans, for the people of this incredible city. I’ve never seen a fanbase like this anywhere else in the world.”
However, questions are being raised over the decision to proceed with the stadium event even as news of the stampede began to surface. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has come under fire for lack of proper crowd management and planning.
In response, the KSCA announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives. Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the BCCI was not responsible for the event, but acknowledged that organisational lapses had occurred.
Before the stadium event, the RCB team was felicitated by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha, where celebrations began earlier in the day.
The incident has cast a shadow over RCB’s long-awaited triumph and sparked a renewed debate on crowd safety and event management in high-profile public gatherings.
