Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their 18-year-long IPL title drought with a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final at Ahmedabad. The long-awaited triumph sent shockwaves of joy across the country, especially in Bengaluru, where fans poured into the streets to celebrate their team’s historic win.
However, what began as a euphoric celebration soon turned into a night of horror and introspection. RCB had planned a grand felicitation event at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. But the celebrations were tragically overshadowed when a massive stampede broke out due to overcrowding, claiming the lives of 11 individuals and injuring over 75.
The event had offered free entry passes, drawing lakhs of enthusiastic fans to the venue. With security and crowd control measures falling short, chaos erupted, prompting police to use a lathi charge to manage the situation.
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Amid the grief, a disturbing video went viral, showing a fan slitting his wrist and using his blood to apply a tilak on Virat Kohli’s poster. This unsettling act raised serious concerns about the psychological impact of extreme fandom and idol worship in sports. While many celebrated Kohli’s leadership and devotion to RCB, this video sparked outrage and worry about the darker side of cricket fanaticism.
पर इसकी जरूरत क्या थी भाई?#RCB #RCBFans #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/75Xy5xcU9x
— Surabhi🇮🇳 (@surabhi_tiwari_) June 6, 2025
Following the tragedy, FIRs were lodged against RCB, the event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for negligence. The Karnataka government has taken swift action, with four arrests, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale.
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also suspended five senior police officers, while the Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident, demanding a full report from the state. What should have been a proud moment in Bengaluru’s cricketing history has instead become a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with hosting mass public events—and the emotional weight cricket carries in India.
