Virat Kohli’s Emotional Tribute to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede Victims: What should have been a day of pure joy for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans turned into heartbreak on June 4.
A Tragic Day During Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Celebrations
The team’s title celebrations at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium drew nearly two-and-a-half lakh people, all eager to catch a glimpse of their heroes. But the overwhelming crowd led to chaos and a devastating stampede that claimed 11 lives and left many more injured.
Last month, RCB announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for each of the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.
Virat Kohli’s Heartfelt Message
Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Virat Kohli has now shared an emotional message for the victims and their families. In his note, he expressed how deeply the tragedy had affected him and the entire team.
“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 loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility,” said Kohli, as quoted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Inquiry Points to Mismanagement
An official investigation later revealed that the chaos happened due to the lack of proper clearances and the huge crowd surge, triggered by social media invites from the franchise. Police admitted they were far too outnumbered to handle such a massive turnout, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru was held responsible in the report for encouraging fans to show up in such large numbers.
RCB’s Response and Future Commitment
In the aftermath, Royal Challengers Bengaluru promised not just financial aid but also meaningful change. Along with the ₹25 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, the franchise pledged to take steps in memory of those lost.
The team also launched RCB Cares, a foundation that aims to work with stadium authorities, sporting bodies, and league partners to create stronger and safer crowd management systems for the future.
Recently, the Bengaluru franchise broke its silence by posting a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter). In their statement, they announced the launch of “RCB CARES”, a platform aimed at supporting and addressing the concerns of their fans.
Here’s what RCB wrote:
“Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you! It’s been close to three months since we last posted here. The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief. This space was once filled with energy, memories, and moments that you enjoyed the most.. But June 4th changed everything. That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space. In that silence, we’ve been grieving. Listening. Learning. And slowly, we’ve begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in.”
“That’s how RCB CARES came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans. We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka. RCB CARES. And we always will. More details soon…”
Check out the Tweet:
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Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief.
This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you… pic.twitter.com/g0lOXAuYbd
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2025
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