The last social media post from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) came on June 05 after their celebrations of winning the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since then, there has been only silence from the franchise, which didn’t post anything on their players or incidents happening around Indian cricket.

Bengaluru, who missed their golden chances of winning the maiden IPL trophies in the past on several occasions, finally was able to grab the trophy in 2025 when they got the better of Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Now, they have released an official statement on the entire incident since their trophy celebration, which took away multiple lives in the stampede case.

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‘Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you! 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 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.’ RCB releases official statement on social media.

RCB reveals official statement on IPL 2025 stampede case

Bengaluru were excellent in the field with the bat and ball in hand, under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, as they continued their clinical performance throughout the season. However, during their trophy celebration in Bengaluru, eight people were killed and 56 were injured in the crush.

Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!

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

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2025

“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. That’s how 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦 came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans.” The ‘Play Bold’ army added.  

“We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka. 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦. And we always will.” RCB franchise shed light.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, shared how the short break during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) helped the team in their journey to a maiden title. The team was moving strongly towards the end of the tournament when unexpected events stopped the campaign for a while.

Although RCB were in a good position for the playoffs, they had not yet secured a place in the top two. The team also faced many injury problems. Skipper Rajat Patidar and key bowler Josh Hazlewood both struggled with serious issues. Devdutt Padikkal was ruled out completely due to a hamstring tear, and Mayank Agarwal was named as his replacement.

Break Helped RCB Recover Physically

From a workload point of view, the break came at the right time for RCB. Rajat Patidar healed enough to play as an impact player in the first few matches after the break. In his absence, Jitesh Sharma led the side. Josh Hazlewood recovered in Australia and later rejoined the team for the knockout stage.

Mo Bobat explained the situation: “We had some injuries and niggles. Rajat had fractured his knuckle. Josh Hazlewood’s shoulder problem came up. Dev [Padikkal] had a hamstring issue. The schedule was very tough and the players were tired. So, there were pros and cons. I just wanted the players to recover and be ready. That’s why I was glad the break was not too long.”

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He added: “Mentally, the break came at a bad time because we were in good form and playing well. You don’t want to lose that momentum. But physically, it was a good time. We had played seven games in 21 or 22 days, with a lot of travel. It was probably the toughest schedule any team had.”

RCB struggled a bit after the break. Their home match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was washed out. Their next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was shifted to Lucknow due to bad weather in Bengaluru, where they lost by 42 runs.

Overseas Players Given Full Choice

When the tournament was suspended midway because of the war situation, many overseas players left the country. Some even said they would not return.

Mo Bobat remembered the talks with the squad: “The moment we heard about the postponement, Andy and I met the overseas players. We wanted to treat them like adults. If they didn’t feel safe and wanted to go home, we respected that. At no point did we try to force them to stay. We gave them full choice.”

When the tournament restarted, RCB had almost a full squad. Only Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi were missing, as they were called for international duty by England and South Africa.

RCB's Devdutt Padikkal that did well for Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy 2025 with a match-changing half-century against Mangalore Dragons at the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Ground in Mysore. His innings not only helped Hubli get a respectable total, but also increased his chances of retention prior to IPL 2026. Padikkal opened the batting and saw Mohammed Taha dismissed early and Vijaya Basavaraj Raj dismissed for a duck, before building the innings and forming good partnerships to steady the innings. 

Padikkal first added 46 runs with Krishnan Shrijith before forging a vital 59-run stand alongside Abhinav Manohar. After Manohar’s dismissal, Padikkal too departed in the following over, but not before scoring a brilliant 63 off 45 balls. His innings contained six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 140.00 and was key as Hubli Tigers went past the 150-run mark. Apart from Manohar's 36, no other batter played a meaningful role as Padikkal showed his intent to anchor the innings.

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This knock marked Padikkal’s third half-century of the season, with two coming against the same opposition, Mangalore Dragons. Defending 152/7, Hubli’s bowlers ensured the target was out of reach, dismissing Mangalore for just 129 and sealing a 23-run victory. KC Cariappa and Yash Raj Punja led the way with three wickets each, while Shreesha Achar and Nathan D'Mello claimed two each. The all-round effort from the team highlighted their formidable campaign, with Padikkal's outstanding, consistent form being a standout-point of their season.

Devdutt Padikkal boosts IPL 2026 retention chances

Devdutt Padikkal has done everything to convince RCB to retain him for IPL 2026. He had a solid season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, scoring 247 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 150.60, all the while batting at No.3. Unfortunately, due to a hamstring injury, he had to cut the season short and was unable to play the last half of the competition. Mayank Agarwal came in as a replacement and did fair, but he will always be a secondary option for RCB if they get their first choice Padikkal. Despite his injury, Padikkal provided RCB with valuable runs.

In the ongoing Maharaja Trophy 2025, Padikkal has continued his solid batting, scoring 186 runs in six matches at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 139.85. He also has three fifties and is currently the third highest run-scorer in the tournament. These great contributions to his teams batting not only help Padikkal build his own confidence, but help RCB potentially retain him for IPL 2026 auction, as he continues to produce valuable runs!

The last social media post from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) official page came on June 05, where they gave an official statement on the outrage at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which took several lives. “As a mark of respect and a gesture of solidarity, RCB has announced a financial support of INR 10 lakh to each of the eleven families of the deceased.” They claimed.

That was it. That was the last post of the IPL 2025 winners in two months, as they haven’t posted anything since then. India completed their five-match Test series under the new captain, Shubman Gill, with a drawn result of 2-2. The right-handed batter earned considerable success with the bat, but RCB showed no appreciation.

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This could be linked to the court cases on their team after the Bengaluru stampede case. They faced massive backlash as the team bus was welcomed by cheering fans. They also made a post of “This welcome is what pure love looks like,” which triggered online criticism.

Why IPL 2025 winners RCB is not posting on social media?

Following the outrage, they had to delete the social media post and put another statement where they called for “The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance.” The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also expressed his deep sorrow over the incident and called it ‘absolutely heartrending.’

Haven’t posted even on Independence Day. They might be facing some serious trouble behind the scenes. pic.twitter.com/4pTn2vklFB

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) August 15, 2025

“The mishap in Bengaluru is heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.” PMO wrote on X. With several reports of the potential transfers for the IPL 2026 having come out for various franchises, there are no such reports on when Bengaluru would start their normal life.

Under the new captain, Rajat Patidar, Bengaluru ended at the second position in the points table with nine victories in 14 encounters at a net run rate of +0.301. They earned nine victories in 14 clashes and faced four defeats only. They also beat the Punjab Kings twice in the qualifier and the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to celebrate their maiden title of the league.

The village boy from Chattisgarh, who got Rajat Patidar's inactive SIM card, shared about his experiences of receiving phone calls from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Kohli, Villiers- Royal connections of Patidar were not aware of the fact that the phone number once belonged to Rajat and is now in the hands of another person. That too is because of protocols from the telecom service provider.

Manish and his friend Khemraj are now treated like celebrities in their village, as they were fortunate enough to talk with stars like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Many crazy people can only dream about watching Virat or other star players right in front of their eyes, while Manish and Khemraj talk with their hero over the phone, which was no less than winning a hefty lottery for them. Manish and Khemraj now share their experience of talking with the cricket royals—what Virat Kohli said, what AB de Villiers said, etc. 

"I never imagined I would speak to Virat Kohli one day, and that too from our village. When AB de Villiers called, he spoke in English. We couldn't understand a word, but we were so thrilled. When Manish used to get calls, he would hand over the phone to me. The callers who identified themselves as Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal asked us why we were using Patidar's number. We explained to them we had bought a new SIM, and this is our number," Khemraj.

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Patidar seek help from police 

According to media reports, Rajat Patidar also called them to recover the SIM card mostly because of the contact base and privacy concerns. That number also had a WhatsApp, where Manish and Khemraj saw Patidar's photo in the profile picture. When phone calls from the cricketers started to come, they thought that it might be some kind of joke or prank. Even when Patidar called, they were not ready to believe the seriousness of the matter.

With no option in hand, Patidar called police to sort out the matter. Police went to their doorstep and recovered the SIM card. Gariaband Deputy Superintendent of Police Neha Sinha stated that there was no legal issue, as the case was a result of standard telecom procedures. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved a proposal from the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) to develop a state-of-the-art sports complex in Surya City, Bommasandra. The highlight of the project will be a massive cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 80,000, making it the second-largest in India after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which holds 1,32,000 spectators. The new stadium aims to host international matches and offer world-class facilities, boosting Karnataka’s sports infrastructure and providing a major venue for both domestic and global cricketing events.

The ambitious project, estimated at INR 1,650 crore, will be entirely funded by the Karnataka Housing Board without any financial assistance from the state government. It will be spread over 100 acres, offering a comprehensive sports hub for athletes and enthusiasts. The cricket stadium will be designed to meet international standards, with modern amenities for players, officials, and spectators. By developing this facility, the state aims to attract major tournaments and enhance its reputation as a leading sports destination in India.

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In addition to the cricket stadium, the sports complex will cater to both indoor and outdoor disciplines. It will feature facilities for eight indoor and eight outdoor sports, high-end gyms, training centres, swimming pools, and accommodation options such as guest houses and hostels. The complex will also include three-star and five-star hotels and a convention hall capable of hosting large-scale international events. Once completed, the project will serve as a multi-sport and tourism hub, contributing to Karnataka’s economic and sporting growth.

The government will look into shifting the cricket stadium to another location: CM

The decision comes in the wake of the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives and injured many. The Justice John Michael Cunha Commission, set up to probe the incident, found the 32,000-capacity stadium on just 17 acres unsuitable for large-scale gatherings. It recommended relocating such events to a larger venue with improved facilities and parking. Since the tragedy, public demand for shifting the stadium to the city’s outskirts has grown significantly.

"The government has not done anything wrong. This incident is saddening, but no misstep was taken by the administration. Legal action has been taken against those found guilty, so there is no question of embarrassment for the government. The government will look into shifting the cricket stadium to another location. Such an unpleasant incident should not happen under any government. Personally, this incident has hurt me and the government," the Karnataka CM said earlier.

After seven weeks of incredible red-ball encounters between two competitive sides, the focus has shifted to white-ball cricket. There is no international cricket for India in August as they will enjoy the break before another hectic schedule of the Asia Cup 2025 and the home season. Plenty of T20I stars, who have been away from the limelight, will be back in contention for the tournament.

The Indian selection committee, under Ajit Agarjar, is going to meet in the third week of August to finalize the 15-member squad. Most of the T20I players will keep their spot in the tournament, while a few places are up for grabs. That’s where they will keep an eye on the stars from the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India locked horns with England during the home five-match T20I series. It has been reported that the IPL 2025 winning side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s Krunal Pandya, is expected to return to the squad for the Asia Cup 2025.

RCB star Krunal Pandya expected to return for India in Asia Cup 2025

Krunal Pandya has been part of 19 T20Is to smash 124 runs at an average of 24.80 and a strike rate of over 130, with the best score of unbeaten 26 runs. With the ball, the left-arm spinner has picked up 15 wickets in 19 innings at an average of 36.93 with an economy rate of over eight.

Krunal has an incredible skill of bowling tight overs at any part of the innings, starting from the powerplay to the middle overs and death overs. The southpaw, during the recently concluded IPL 2025, nailed 109 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 126.74 with one half-century on his name besides picking up 17 wickets at an economy rate of just over eight.

If Krunal Pandya comes into the side, it will mean India will have two left-arm spinners alongside Axar Patel. Kuldeep Yadav is expected to retain his place, while the toss-up will be between Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi for the tournament.

The Chennai Super Kings have been the joint most successful franchise in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) along with the Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first edition of the league in 2025. The recent encounter between these two teams has been incredible, and there is an intense rivalry between the two sides from the south.

In a recent interview with Subhankar Mishra during the podcast, the former RCB batter and captain of the South Africa side, Ab de Villiers, made a shocking statement on the Yellow franchise. Speaking of the youngster, Dewald Brevis, de Villiers reckoned that it was a shame that the right-handed batter played for the Super Kings and not Bengaluru.

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‘From South Africa, I would say Dewald Brevis (who could become the next 360-degree player in the game. Yeah, he has the number 17 on the back. He plays a similar kind of cricket. He is very attacking and still has a lot to learn. He is playing for CSK and not RCB. That is a shame.’

Watch: AB de Villiers calls playing for CSK in IPL a shame

Brevis recently made his debut in the longest format in Zimbabwe and needs the two-match series with 84 runs in three innings at an average of 28 and a strike rate of nearly 98.82 with one half-century to his name. The right-handed batter has smashed 138 runs in seven T20I innings at a strike rate of around 180 with the best score of 41.

Didn't expect This From You @ABdeVilliers17 💔 pic.twitter.com/zslmE8uo0s

— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍~𝟕💛 (@UrSuperking7) August 3, 2025

In the history of the IPL, the Protea batter has clubbed 455 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 153.19. In the last season of the tournament, playing for the Super Kings, he notched up 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180 with two fifties to his name.

The Chennai Super Kings didn’t have a great time in the last season, having finished at the bottom of the points table for the very first time in their history in the league. But they will look to make a strong comeback in the upcoming season.

The former batter of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has betrayed some of the great batters and bowlers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to pick his all-time XI. He has kept Rohit Sharma and Matthew Hayden as the two openers of the team. The former is the second leading run-getter of the event with 7046 runs in 267 innings at a strike rate of 132.09, having scored 47 fifties and two centuries.

Hayden had always displayed his aggression over the years in the league. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar have been slotted at number four and five in the line-up. The former RCB captain is the leading run-getter of the league with 8661 runs in 259 innings at a strike rate of 132.85, while Sky has smashed 4311 runs at a strike rate of 148.65.

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De Villiers has put himself at number five, having drilled 5162 runs in 170 innings at a strike rate of 151.68, notching up three centuries and 40 fifties. Hardik Pandya is the genuine all-rounder of the eleven, as MS Dhoni is the wicket-keeper batter.

AB de Villiers avoids several notable players to pick his all-time IPL XI

Dhoni is the sixth-highest run-getter of the list with 5439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, having 24 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 84 runs. Hardik drilled 224 runs at a strike rate of 163.50 in the last season as they finished in the playoffs of the competition.

Jasprit Bumrah, the sixth leading wicket-taker of the IPL, has also found his position in the all-time XI of AB de Villiers. He has grabbed 183 wickets in 145 innings at an average of 22.02 and an economy rate of just over seven. Surprisingly, he has kept Daniel Vettori and leg spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, in the side.

Chahal is the leading wicket-taker of the league with 221 scalps in 172 innings at an average of under 23 and an economy rate of nearly eight. Lasith Malinga has used his yorkers and smart bowling over the years to get success, having picked up 170 wickets in 122 innings at an average of under 20 and an economy rate of 7.14.

Ab de Villiers’ all-time IPL XI

Rohit Sharma, Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lasith Malinga, Daniel Vettori.

The former West Indies left-handed opening batter, Chris Gayle, was present during the season two of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 in England, where their side didn’t do well and got knocked out of the group-stage after their defeat against India, who qualified into the semifinal clash, which later on was canceled against India due to political reasons.

Along with Gayle, there were several notable players of the Caribbean side, including Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, L Simmons, and others. Their batting wasn’t up to the mark in the three-week competition, even though Fidel Edwards breathed fire in a few games. But Gayle, the skipper of the side, looked forward to making a strong comeback for next season of WCL. 

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‘It’s a bit of mixed feelings, and I'm disappointed to get knocked out of the competition. But I must say the second season of WCL was fantastic and well put together. We did have a bad season, but we will learn from the mistakes and come back next season bigger and stronger. The fans were excited, especially the Indians, who support the West Indies, but they also want to see good cricket.’

Watch: Chris Gayle highlights future of Virat Kohli potentially playing WCL

‘From here, the memories of the Caribbean will be good to see the players we haven’t seen for a long time. Some of them have finished their career a bit too early. But it’s good to see them back in the cricket field. Some youngsters might get a chance to see some of the legends, which is very good.’ Gayle added.

Cricket scholar & TV host Sunil Yash Kalra in talks with Chirs Gayle & Ajay Sethi during WCL. Gayle talked on Virat come back his days with ABD and future of WCL. pic.twitter.com/8aKkOQnvQn

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 2, 2025

When asked whether he would want to spend some time in the middle or against his old teammates from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli and Ab de Villiers, the southpaw had a smile and excitement on his face.

‘We (and Virat Kohli) had some great times on and off the field. It was great to share the same dressing room. Like I said, he is a phenomenal player and a legend of the game. He is still playing, which is good news. But we will miss him whenever he fully quits. The best moment will be to see me, AB de Villiers, and Virat sharing the ground in the future WCL.’ Gayle concluded.