India head coach Gautam Gambhir made a strong statement on the unfortunate stampede incident in Bengaluru that took place during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations on Wednesday (June 4).
The incident claimed the lives of 11 people and left several others injured. Gambhir, along with newly-appointed Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill, addressed a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday (June 5) ahead of the team’s departure to England for the five-match Test series.
"I was never a believer of road shows. I had the same statement to make even after winning in 2007, we should never have roadshows. Maybe in the future we can do something in a stadium. My heart goes to the families of those who lost their lives," Gambhir told the media.
"All I can say is, we need to be responsible. Every life matters. If we are not ready to hold a road show, we should not do that. You cannot at any point of time lose 11 people," he added.
RCB were supposed to hold a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium. Throughout the day, there was no clarity on whether the parade would took place, as initially, the Bengaluru traffic police denied permission, citing that there might be too much chaos.
As soon as the Rajat Patidar-led side reached Vidhana Soudha to meet the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a stampede was reported outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Thousands had assembled to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL title win. However, the police failed to manage the crowd, leading to a stampede-like situation outside the ground.
On Thursday, the Bengaluru-based franchise issued a statement to express its deep anguish over the tragic incident.
“We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us," RCB stated.
“RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed, the guidance and advice of the local administration. We urge all our supporters to please stay safe,” the statement added.
RCB’s victory celebrations inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium lasted for half an hour as Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar delivered short speeches, thanking the crowd for their constant support. The entire squad then took a lap around the ground to rejoice the title win.
In the IPL 2025 Final, RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium to end their 18-year long wait for the elusive title win.
