Cricket icon and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli has shared his deep sorrow over the tragic stampede that overshadowed his team’s long-awaited IPL victory on June 4. The chaotic incident at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where 2.5 lakh fans gathered to celebrate RCB’s first IPL title, resulted in 11 deaths and numerous injuries, turning a moment of joy into one of heartbreak.

“No moment in life prepares you for a tragedy like this. What should have been our proudest day became a nightmare,” Kohli said in a heartfelt statement shared via RCB’s official X account. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones and the fans who were hurt. Their pain is now part of our journey.”

The stampede was triggered by an overwhelming crowd response to social media invitations from RCB, coupled with inadequate crowd control measures. An official probe criticised the franchise for failing to secure proper clearances and highlighted the police’s inability to manage the massive turnout.

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In response, RCB has taken responsibility, offering Rs 25 lakh in compensation to each deceased victim’s family and vowing to honour their memory through “meaningful action”. The franchise also launched RCB Cares, a foundation dedicated to improving crowd management protocols in collaboration with stadium authorities and league partners.

Kohli emphasised moving forward with “care, respect, and responsibility”, as RCB works to ensure such a tragedy never happens again, while keeping the affected families in their hearts.

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