Three months after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title win, the tragic events that followed their victory parade in Bengaluru remains in memory.
What began as a historic celebration for the franchise turned into heartbreak when a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium took 11 lives and left over 30 injured.
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Since then, the team, players and fans have grappled with the emotional aftermath of that day - even as RCB's long-awaited win was meant to be a moment of pure joy.
Virat Kohli reflects on June 4 stampede incident in Bengaluru
RCB star Virat Kohli recently addressed the tragedy in an emotional message shared with fans. The former captain admitted that nothing could have prepared him for the shock of June 4.
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He described it as what should have been the happiest moment in the team's history turning into something deeply painful.
"Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history.. turned into something tragic. I've been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost.. and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility," Kohli wrote.
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Fans divided over Virat Kohli's note
While many appreciated Kohli's words, some fans on social media expressed frustration over the timing of his statement - questioning why it took him months to address the incident.
Others criticised him for being away from India during the aftermath. The reactions reflect how raw the tragedy still feels for parts of the RCB community.
“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your… pic.twitter.com/nsJrKDdKWB
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025
The stampede has permanently marked RCB's long-awaited title win - serving as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with moments of triumph.
The franchise, which had earlier issued its own statement urging safety and mourning the victims, now faces the challenge of ensuring future celebrations are handled with greater care.