New Delhi: A ‘gutted’ Virat Kohli said he was at a loss for words as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star broke his silence on the tragic stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the franchise’s IPL title celebrations on Wednesday. At least 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured in the stampede as thousands gathered outside the stadium.
Chaos unfolded outside the stadium, where fans gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the RCB players and the IPL trophy. In visuals that surfaced on social media, a number of fans were spotted climbing trees, buses and other vehicles as RCB’s team bus headed towards the Chinnaswamy Stadium where the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had organised a felicitation ceremony for the team.
The celebrations continued inside the stadium despite people getting injured and losing their lives right outside the venue. Kohli, who addressed the fans inside a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium before leading the team’s lap of honour, shared RCB’s official statement on his Instagram account. Kohli also added a personal message, expressing his condolences at the shocking incident.
“At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted,” Kohli wrote on Instagram.
The IPL 2025 title-winning RCB squad arrived in Bengaluru to a rousing reception from fans on Wednesday after defeating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final on Tuesday. The squad was felicitated by the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Bengaluru Vidhan Sabha before they departed to the Chinnaswamy Stadium on a bus.
RCB displayed their IPL trophy for the first time at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The entire stadium was packed with lakhs of fans, who wanted to celebrate with the players. However, the event was cut short to just 20 minutes after the organisers were informed about the stampede outside. All RCB players, including Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar, attended the event.
“Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our programme and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration,” RCB said in their official statement.
The tragic stampede, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, has raised serious questions about the security arrangements outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The police officers placed outside the stadium were heavily outnumbered by the massive crowds. As per reports, a drain slab outside the stadium fell after people stood over it in large numbers, resulting in chaos, which led to the tragic stampede.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday after defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets in a thrilling final. RCB brought an end to title curse after 18 years of existence in the league.
