The joyous celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic maiden IPL title win in 2025 quickly turned tragic. On June 4, a day after RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final held in Ahmedabad, chaos erupted outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the team was scheduled to arrive.
A stampede occurred as large crowds gathered, resulting in multiple deaths and several injuries. Despite the state government cancelling the planned victory roadshow due to a shortage of security personnel, a massive crowd still assembled at the stadium. Unable to control the situation, the police witnessed the celebration descend into tragedy.
Following the incident, RCB’s marketing head, Nikhil Sosale, was taken into custody. According to Cricbuzz, Bengaluru Police arrested Sosale at Kempegowda International Airport. Officials from DNA Entertainment — Sunil Mathew and Kiran Kumar — were also taken into custody.
Following the tragic stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, June 4, which claimed 11 lives, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the arrest of officials associated with RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
RCB And Players Mourn Lives Lost In Bengaluru Stampede
The day after the unfortunate incident, the franchise issued a heartfelt message on social media, expressing grief over the tragic loss of lives in the stampede. Star player Virat Kohli also shared his sympathies. The official message, posted on RCB’s Instagram handle, stated:
“We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us. RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families.”
“In addition, a fund called RCB Cares is also being created to support fans injured in this tragic incident. Our fans will always remain at the heart of everything that we do. We remain united in grief,” the statement further read.
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