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Nearly three months after the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others, Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Virat Kohli has finally addressed the devastating incident that forever changed what should have been the franchise’s most celebrated moment. The former RCB captain’s emotional statement comes as part of the team’s ‘RCB CARES’ initiative, marking the first time Kohli has publicly spoken about the June 4 tragedy that overshadowed their maiden IPL triumph.
Virat Kohli expresses grief over the tragic Chinnaswamy stadium stampede
In a deeply personal message shared through RCB’s social media channels, Kohli expressed the profound grief that has haunted him since that fateful day.
“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic,” the cricket star stated in an RCB tweet. His words reflect the complex emotions of a victory celebration that transformed into an unthinkable tragedy within hours.
The stampede occurred on June 4, 2025, just one day after RCB’s historic six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL final, ending their 18-year wait for the championship. What began as jubilant celebrations with thousands of fans gathering outside the stadium quickly descended into chaos when crowd control measures failed, resulting in a crush that claimed predominantly young lives. Among the victims were an 18-year-old son of a street vendor and a 22-year-old engineering student who was described by his grieving mother as being “crazy about RCB”.
“I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost”: Kohli
Kohli’s statement continued with a commitment that reflects both personal anguish and institutional responsibility: “I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility“. This acknowledgment represents a significant moment for the franchise, which had faced criticism for its initial response to the tragedy.
The Karnataka government’s subsequent investigation held RCB accountable for the stampede, citing the franchise’s failure to obtain proper permissions and adequately consult with police before announcing the victory celebrations. The government’s report revealed that RCB had “unilaterally decided to hold the victory celebration without prior consultation with the police,” despite being denied permission for a victory parade just hours earlier. The tragedy has also raised questions about the future of large-scale events at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the Justice Cunha Commission declaring the venue’s design “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings.
As RCB moves forward with their commitment to improved safety measures and community support through the ‘RCB CARES’ initiative, Kohli’s words serve as both an acknowledgment of irreplaceable loss and a pledge that such a tragedy must never be repeated.
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“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your… pic.twitter.com/nsJrKDdKWB
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025
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