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Key Points

Virat Kohli has opened up about the tragic stampede that occurred during RCB's IPL title celebrations in Bengaluru. The incident claimed 11 lives and left many injured during what should have been a joyous occasion. RCB has responded by launching the RCB Cares initiative and pledging significant compensation to affected families. The franchise is now working with cricket authorities to develop better crowd management protocols for future events.

Key Points: Virat Kohli Reflects on Bengaluru Stampede After RCB IPL Title

  • Kohli calls Bengaluru stampede a heartbreaking tragedy during RCB celebrations
  • RCB pledges Rs 25 lakh compensation to each affected family
  • Franchise launches RCB Cares initiative for fan safety
  • Justice commission finds Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe for mass gatherings
2 min read

'Nothing in life prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4': Kohli on Bengaluru stampede

Virat Kohli shares heartfelt statement on June 4 stampede tragedy during RCB's IPL celebrations that claimed 11 lives, announces RCB Cares initiative.

"Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th - Virat Kohli"

New Delhi, Sep 3

Virat Kohli has reflected on the turn of events of June 4, when the city of Bengaluru’s most awaited day turned tragic as a stampede claimed the lives of 11 people during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title celebrations.

Kohli, whose long awaited maiden franchise trophy in the cash-rich league, claimed the loss of the city is a part of the team’s story now and will move forward with 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 loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility,” read a statement by Virat Kohli on RCB’s website.

After having stepped away from both T20 and Test formats, Kohli will next be seen in action during India’s white ball tour of Australia in October.

RCB recently unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for their new initiative, 'RCB Cares', following the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives during the team’s IPL trophy celebrations earlier this year.

As part of the foundation’s long-term vision, RCB announced that it will collaborate closely with the IPL and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to develop stronger crowd management protocols aimed at preventing such incidents in the future.

The franchise had earlier pledged Rs 25 lakh in compensation to each of the families affected by the tragedy. Expanding on that commitment, 'RCB Cares' was introduced as a platform dedicated to "support, empower and elevate our 12th Man Army through meaningful action."

Following the June 4 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium premises during RCB's victory celebrations, Karnataka government appointed Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission to investigate the matter. In its report, the commission stated that the stadium's "design and structure" are inherently "unsuitable and unsafe" for mass gatherings.

As a result, Navi Mumbai replaced Bengaluru as one of the five venues for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in a revised schedule for the showpiece event.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While Kohli's statement is heartfelt, the authorities must be held accountable. Chinnaswamy Stadium's safety issues were known for years. Why wait for tragedy to strike? Better crowd management should have been priority long back.
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Arjun K
RCB Cares initiative is a good step forward. 25 lakh compensation per family shows they're taking responsibility. Hope other franchises learn from this and improve safety measures across all stadiums in India.
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Sarah B
Heartbreaking to read about the stampede. Sports should bring joy, not tragedy. Glad to see concrete actions being taken with new protocols. Safety must come before celebrations always.
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Vikram M
As a die-hard RCB fan, that day was bittersweet. We finally won but lost fellow fans. Kohli speaking about this shows character. Hope the new safety measures prevent such incidents in future matches.
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Michael C
The fact that Navi Mumbai replaced Bengaluru for Women's World Cup says everything about the safety concerns. Infrastructure upgrades are desperately needed across Indian stadiums. This should be a wake-up call for all sports authorities.

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