What started as a dream run ended in a nightmare. The chants of ‘Ee Sala Cup Namdu’ soon turned to cries of chaos – was it fate or a result of clear carelessness? The moment RCB won the IPL 2025 title, the fans from all around the nation went berserk while celebrating the success of the team. There was absolute chaos on the streets of Bengaluru.
The Virat Kohli-starrer RCB ended the wait of 18 years as they scripted history by winning their maiden Indian Premier League trophy by defeating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The night turned out to be an emotional rollercoaster for the fans, who waited for 18 years to watch their legend Virat Kohli lift the prestigious silverware.
From getting trolled to being criticized for losing the title for so many years, RCB finally ended the trophy drought and lifted the prestigious cup in the presence of the Holy Trinity of RCB – Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle. Yes, that night history was made, but no one had any idea that a tragedy was waiting to happen.
RCB’s historic win celebration was marred by the tragic stampede episode outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where at least 11 people lost their lives while several others were seriously injured.
Was it fate or a result of clear carelessness from the fans? – It was a complete system failure!
For the unversed, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had organized a special felicitation ceremony in Bengaluru on Wednesday, and the moment fans got to know about this ceremony, they started gathering outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. However, the situation soon became so unmanageable that the Police had to resort to a lathi-charge to control the crowd, which led to even more chaos and panic among the fans.
It has to be noted that multiple alerts from the police and traffic officials were sent on social media, urging fans to be organized. There are reports that the Bengaluru Police were not in favor of the open-bus parade and were consistently urging the management not to host this parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium. According to a report by Deccan Herald, the RCB management and the Karnataka State government were also urged not to do any form of celebration on Wednesday, as the emotions were high.
Despite explicit warnings from the Chief Minister and repeated requests from the police for more time and personnel, the RCB management pushed ahead with the parade. Their decision, driven more by celebration than caution, came off as reckless prioritising festivity over fan safety, with devastating consequences.
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However, the franchise insisted on hosting the victory parade. When Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s management was told to plan the open-parade victory processions on Sunday, the franchise argued that they wouldn’t have the overseas players with them by that time.
“We tried to discourage the government as well as the RCB franchise from Tuesday night against having any celebrations on Wednesday. We told them it would be ill-advised and recommended holding the event next Sunday when emotions would have cooled down,” the report quoted a police official as saying.
“We told them not to take out any procession, but to hold it in one place in an organised manner. Bring the players to the stadium and finish it there,” said the officer further.
“Their argument was that the players, especially the foreigners, would leave today or tomorrow,” he said.
“Naturally, the government would want to take mileage out of it. If the government had refused, that would have led to another kind of chaos,” he further added.
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“On Tuesday, till 5.30 am, all our staff – from the police commissioner to constables – were on the streets and completely exhausted. It was total madness. This kind of frenzy we have never seen.”
Karnataka Police say they advised RCB to hold the victory parade on Sunday to avoid crowd trouble… but the team insisted on holding it immediately, as foreign players were set to leave soon
Cops claim they warned both the government and RCB about the risk. "We told… pic.twitter.com/VVDwhhZlzy
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) June 5, 2025
A senior Bengaluru police officer said, “We tried to discourage them, but there was a mad frenzy. The celebrations had continued into the early hours, and our personnel were exhausted. Though we managed to cancel the victory procession, our request to either confine the celebrations to a single venue or postpone it to Sunday, when emotions would have settled, was ignored”. (Deccan Herald).
A senior Bengaluru police officer said, "We tried to discourage them, but there was a mad frenzy. The celebrations had continued into the early hours, and our personnel were exhausted. Though we managed to cancel the victory procession, our request to either confine the…
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 5, 2025
Who was at fault? – System, Players, Fans or the Franchise?
Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar defended the arrangements made by the Karnataka Cricket Body, stating: “We had arranged for 5,000 police personnel. We couldn’t use force on such a young, vibrant crowd.”
However, the public outrage intensified when fans learned that while people were dying outside the stadium, the felicitation event continued inside. Many called it “insensitive” and “tone-deaf.”
This picture will haunt every cricket fans forever 💔💔💔#Stampede #Chinnaswamystadium pic.twitter.com/Z1NJaDC9LX
— Voice of Hindus (@Warlock_Shubh) June 4, 2025
You didn’t cancel the ceremony inspite of knowing that innocent Kannadiga are dying just 20 Meters away in Stampede.
Photo Optics with RCB was important for Congress Government.
Shame congress pic.twitter.com/jK5APu83FU— Vikram Pratap Singh (@VIKRAMPRATAPSIN) June 4, 2025
Virat Kohli eventually took to social media and shared a message for his fans, expressing his condolences, however, the fact that the celebrations didn’t stop immediately has left many heartbroken. Virat wrote: “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.”
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On the other hand, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan disagreed on the theory that Virat Kohli knew about the tragedy, yet he decided to go ahead with the ceremony. In conversation with ANI, Atul Wassan said:
“I cannot believe in a million years that Virat Kohli knew that people were dying outside and the felicitation was going inside,”
He added: “The politicians, I can believe, because they’re ruthless, thick-skinned and so is the corporate, which is the RCB franchise. The franchisees don’t care because they have to show the balance sheets, and they have to show revenue. They would have known maybe. It was a lack of communication. By the time Virat and the players would have got to know, they didn’t have any say in it. If Virat had known, he would have immediately walked out. I cannot believe that Virat knew and this has happened,”
Was it all worth it?
The cup may now sit proudly in RCB’s cabinet, but it comes with a stain that celebration can’t wash away. A night meant for fireworks now echoes with sirens and silence. As the red and gold confetti settles, the city is left asking: was it all worth it?
Our hearts bleed witnessing a young father’s cries over the tragic death of his child. 💔
"At least give me his body. Don't do a postmortem. Don't cut his body into pieces. Please, I beg you. Just return his body to me. I can't bear this. Why did this happen? Who will answer for… pic.twitter.com/mZ7pZ882Va
— Citizens Movement, East Bengaluru (@east_bengaluru) June 5, 2025
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