What was meant to be a day of celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their passionate fanbase turned into a horrific tragedy outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As thousands of fans gathered to witness RCB’s historic victory parade after their maiden IPL title, the crowd’s excitement quickly spiraled out of control. What began with chants and celebrations soon descended into scenes of chaos, as crowd control measures proved woefully inadequate. The situation escalated within hours, resulting in a deadly stampede that shocked the entire cricketing community.

The stampede claimed the lives of 11 fans, casting a dark shadow over what should have been a jubilant occasion. Dozens more were injured, with many still undergoing treatment. Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes of people getting trampled and cries for help going unheard in the sea of noise. While fans were eager to share the victory moment with their heroes, the lack of barricades, emergency exits, and security personnel only made things worse. Emergency services arrived late, adding to the grief and anger. The entire nation has been left shaken by the sheer scale of the mismanagement and loss.

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The aftermath of the tragedy has triggered widespread outrage. Authorities and organizers have started trading blame, with the BCCI finding itself at the center of criticism. Many are questioning how such a large-scale event was allowed to take place without proper safety protocols. Social media is abuzz with demands for accountability, and public trust in the governing bodies has taken a massive hit. What was meant to be a proud, emotional milestone for RCB has now become one of the darkest chapters in IPL history.

BCCI responds strongly to the criticism 

Amidst heightened criticism, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal shares a strong message on the deadly stampede that took place outside the stadium, leaving several injured or dead. Dhumal clarified that the BCCI had no role to play in organizing the RCB victory parade event in the aftermath of the final. He expressed deep sorrow and regret for those who lost their lives in the stampede, but added that the governing body can't be blamed for this fiasco. 

“It is sad and tragic. The celebrations turned into a tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families who lost their loved ones. For the BCCI, the IPL concluded last night. We had no knowledge of such an incident occurring, so how can we be held responsible for it?”

Moreover, he also questioned the absence of IPL officials who, in his opinion, should have been present in huge numbers. Organizing RCB's victory parade came at a very short notice, almost a day after the IPL 2025 final concluded. This gave very little time for the authorities to brace themselves for what was to come. The news of the deceased fans outside the stadium compelled Dhumal to get in touch with RCB. He then advised the franchise to take stock of the situation and wrap up the celebration as quickly as possible before it could spiral further out of control.