Bengaluru:
For the first time in nearly three months, IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) addressed the deadly stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured 75 during their homecoming celebration in June.
RCB’s statement on social media
In a heartfelt social media post, RCB explained their silence, citing grief over the incident on June 4. The franchise wrote: “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… That’s how RCB CARES came to life.”
RCB CARES, according to the post, is a platform created to honour victims, support fans, and ensure meaningful engagement with the community. The franchise emphasised that their return to social media was not for celebration, but to stand with fans, saying: “To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka. RCB CARES. And we always will.”
Background of the tragedy
The stampede occurred during the RCB homecoming parade celebrating their maiden IPL title, which ended an 18-year wait for the franchise. The tragedy not only claimed lives but also affected the reputation of the iconic stadium.
Aftermath and impact on events
Following the incident, the stadium was declared unfit for major events. Consequently, Mumbai has replaced Bengaluru as a venue for next month’s Women’s ODI World Cup, while the Maharaja T20 tournament was moved to Mysuru after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) could not secure police clearance.
The RCB post represents a step towards healing and accountability, signalling the franchise’s commitment to fans and community engagement through RCB CARES.