RCB has released their first statement since June 5, following the stampede during their IPL 2025 title celebrations that left 11 people dead and several others injured.
RCB Breaks Silence 84 Days After Tragic Stampede
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have issued their first statement since June 5, following the devastating stampede that claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others during their IPL 2025 title celebrations. RCB had ended a 19-year wait for their maiden IPL trophy on June 3, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Yet, less than 24 hours later, the joy turned to sorrow when chaos outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium led to a deadly stampede.
Eighty-four days after the incident, which shook the nation and led to multiple complaints and arrests, RCB shared a heartfelt note hinting at their initiative, ‘RCB Cares’.
“The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was 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. In that silence, we’ve been grieving. Listening. Learning. And slowly, we’ve begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in,” RCB posted on their X handle.
Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2025
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief.
This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you… pic.twitter.com/g0lOXAuYbd
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have finally broken their silence 84 days after the tragic stampede during their IPL 2025 title celebrations, which claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others. Following their maiden IPL win on June 3 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the joy quickly turned to sorrow outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In a heartfelt statement on their X handle, RCB introduced their initiative ‘RCB CARES’, emphasizing support, healing, and community engagement.
The statement reflects the franchise’s commitment to meaningful action, mourning, and solidarity with fans affected by the tragedy. It marks a shift from celebration to compassion, ensuring that the lives lost are remembered and that the community continues to be at the heart of RCB’s initiatives.
The stampede that shook the nation
What should have been a historic day for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru turned into a nightmare outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As thousands gathered to celebrate the team’s long-awaited IPL triumph, a stampede broke out, claiming 11 lives and injuring over 50. While the celebrations inside the stadium roared on, grief and chaos unfolded outside, leaving fans across India shocked and outraged.
In the aftermath, RCB eventually promised ₹10 lakh to the bereaved families and launched the ‘RCB CARES’ fund for the injured. However, these gestures came only after mounting public criticism, and many perceived them as reactive measures rather than genuine compassion. The Karnataka government directly held the franchise responsible for lapses that contributed to the tragedy.
Adding to the frustration, RCB’s initial single-line condolence message immediately after the incident was quickly forgotten, and the team’s silence over the next three months deepened fans’ sense of abandonment during one of their darkest moments. What could have been a unifying celebration instead became a cautionary tale of oversight, mismanagement, and the heavy responsibility that comes with fan engagement in high-stakes events.