The cricketing world was left in shock and sorrow after a tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured nearly 50 fans during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebrations. What was supposed to be a historic day for the franchise, celebrating their maiden IPL title, turned into a devastating incident that deeply moved many, including Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Anil Kumble.
The stampede unfolded when an overwhelming crowd of more than two lakh people gathered near the stadium, far exceeding its 35,000-seat capacity, hoping to get a glimpse of their favourite stars. The felicitation event, featuring the entire RCB squad including head coach Andy Flower and team mentor Dinesh Karthik, was abruptly cut short to just 20 minutes as authorities were alerted to the chaos and casualties outside.
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Sachin Tendulkar expressed his grief on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all.”
What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all. 🙏
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 4, 2025
What was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the incident in #Bengaluru.
May the families find strength and the departed souls rest in peace 🙏🏻
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 4, 2025
Yuvraj Singh echoed the heartbreak, saying, “What was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the incident in Bengaluru. May the families find strength and the departed souls rest in peace.”
Anil Kumble, too, mourned the loss, stating, “It’s a sad day for cricket! My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives while celebrating RCB’s victory today. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. Tragic!!”
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In response, RCB issued a heartfelt statement expressing their anguish. “We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light. The safety and well-being of everyone is of the utmost importance to us,” the franchise said. The statement also confirmed that the event was promptly modified in accordance with local administration guidelines once the tragedy was reported.
