Three months after 11 lives were lost in a stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that occured during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) celebrations after winning the 2025 IndianPremier League (IPL), the team’s former captain and talisman Virat Kohli has broken his silence on the matter. Kohli’s statement, which has been released through the franchise itself, comes just under a week after RCB put out its own first statement in three months.
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“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th,” Kohli said in the note. “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.”
“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
RCB also released a statement from captain Rajat Patidar on Wednesday. “Every time I walk out for RCB, it’s with passion, and that passion comes from you. From your love, your belief, and your unwavering support. You’ve always stood by us,” he said. “And from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know that we stand with you too. You’ve all been in my thoughts and prayers. With all of us holding on to each other, we’ll find our strength again.”
“Every time I walk out for RCB, it’s with passion, and that passion comes from you. From your love, your belief, and your unwavering support. You’ve always stood by us. And from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know that we stand with you too. You’ve all been in my thoughts… pic.twitter.com/QaguHz2mw1
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025
RCB to set up memorial
RCB had said last week that the silence that they maintained since the incident was not “absence” but “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,” their post on X(Formerly known as Twitter) read.
RCB have since announced that they will establish a memorial in the city to honour the 11 fans who died. The exact location of the memorial is yet to be disclosed. According to the franchise, it will serve as a lasting tribute to the fans’ loyalty. Over the coming months, with necessary approvals in place, the initiative will focus on multiple areas. These include providing fast, transparent, and human support to fans and families affected; building safe and inclusive environments by collaborating with stadium authorities, sporting bodies, and league partners to develop stronger crowd management protocols; and empowering communities through social development programs, starting with the Siddhi community in rural Karnataka.
The franchise and Kohli himself were among those criticised by the Karnataka government in the days following the tragedy. The Karnataka government said in its June 12 status report to the Karnataka High Court accessed by The Indian Express, that RCB, “unilaterally and without consultation/permission” from the Bangalore city police, posted a photo at 7.01 am on its official handle on social media informing that there will be free entry for people at the victory celebration. The report also said that RCB shared a video clip featuring Virat Kohli in which he stated that “the team intended to celebrate this victory with the people of Bengaluru city”.
