What was meant to be a historic celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has turned into one of the darkest chapters in IPL history. On June 4, outside the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, a joyous crowd gathered to honour RCB’s maiden IPL title win but the day ended in unimaginable grief, with eleven lives lost and over 50 people injured in a stampede.
Months after the incident, RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, has urged the franchise to ensure that the victims are forever remembered as part of the team’s heritage.
“Cricket and the IPL are about passion and enjoyment, and our biggest motivators are our fans. Some of us are new, but these fans have waited 18 years for this moment. For some of them to have lost their lives just feels incredibly sad. Their stories will now be part of our history and heritage, and we must honour them,” Bobat said in an emotional statement to Cricbuzz.
How Celebration Turned to Chaos
The stampede occurred when thousands of fans thronged the stadium to witness the victory parade. The crowd far exceeded the stadium’s capacity, and with barriers collapsing and no proper crowd control measures in place, chaos erupted.
RCB immediately announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each victim’s family and launched the “RCB Cares” fund to provide financial and medical assistance to those injured.
Government Inquiry Holds RCB, KSCA and Partners Accountable
A high-level inquiry, led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha, delivered a damning report. It labelled the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as “fundamentally unsafe” for large-scale events, citing inadequate entry and exit points, lack of emergency alertness, and poor crowd management systems.
The report held RCB, its event partners, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) responsible for gross mismanagement and recommended disciplinary action against several officials.
Immediate Fallout: Stadium Dropped from ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025
In a direct consequence of the findings, the Chinnaswamy Stadium was removed as a venue for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. High-profile matches, including a semi-final and potentially the final, will now be held at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
A Tragedy That Will Shape RCB’s Legacy
While RCB’s maiden IPL title should have been a moment of pure joy, the tragic events outside the stadium have cast a long shadow. Bobat insists that honouring the victims is no longer a gesture – it is a responsibility.
For a team whose journey has been defined by its passionate fanbase, this incident serves as a reminder that cricketing glory must never come at the cost of human lives.
