The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s historic IPL title win was tragically overshadowed by a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The incident resulted in eleven fatalities and over fifty injuries.
RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, has declared that the team will ensure the victims are commemorated as part of their heritage. Bobat emphasized the significance of the fans in the team’s journey and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life.
The stampede occurred when a large crowd gathered for the victory parade, surpassing the stadium’s capacity. Inadequate crowd management and infrastructure failures contributed to the ensuing chaos. RCB responded immediately with compensation and established the “RCB Cares” fund to aid those affected.
A governmental inquiry, led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha, found the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe, pointing to inadequate entry and exit points and poor crowd control. The report placed blame on RCB, event partners, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), recommending disciplinary actions.
As a direct consequence, the venue was removed from the schedule for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. The matches, including a semi-final and the potential final, will now be held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The incident is a reminder of the importance of safety and responsibility, with Bobat stating that honoring the victims is now a paramount duty.
