RCB’s Historic IPL Victory Turns Tragic: Stampede Outside Chinnaswamy Stadium Kills 11

What was meant to be a historic celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL title turned into a tragic disaster as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured at least 33 fans. The incident unfolded on Wednesday evening when tens of thousands of supporters gathered beyond the stadium’s capacity to witness RCB players celebrate their win over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final.

The stadium gates, designed to accommodate around 35,000 people, were overwhelmed as two to three lakh fans reportedly thronged the venue. Chaos erupted near Gate 2 as barriers were breached and panic set in, resulting in several being trampled. Emergency services were stretched thin, and police personnel were seen carrying unconscious fans—some minors—to hospitals amid heavy rainfall and traffic congestion.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and admitted serious lapses in planning and crowd control. He confirmed a 15-day deadline for the report and emphasized that there would be no political shielding of responsibility.

RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and team legend Virat Kohli expressed deep sorrow. Kohli posted “Absolutely gutted” on social media, echoing the grief felt across the cricketing community. RCB and KSCA jointly announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for each bereaved family, while the state government declared an additional ₹10 lakh ex-gratia amount.

The tragedy prompted RCB to shorten the celebration, with only brief addresses from Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar before the trophy presentation. A planned victory lap was also cut short. RCB's official statement emphasized the need for public safety and urged fans to remain cautious in large gatherings.

There was widespread criticism of the mismanagement and contradictory communication between the authorities and the franchise in the lead-up to the event. The lack of crowd control, insufficient entry gates, and unclear messaging about passes and routes added to the confusion.

As the city of Bengaluru mourns, the bittersweet memory of RCB’s long-awaited triumph is now etched with sorrow. While the team finally ended an 18-year title drought, the cost in human lives casts a heavy shadow over what should have been a moment of pure celebration.