On June 3, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans were on cloud nine as their beloved franchise finally broke the jinx and brought home the long-awaited Indian Premier League title.
Virat Kohli and his side finally ended the curse as they beat Punjab Kings in the final to lift the coveted title. Celebrations began in full flow across Bengaluru on the night of the victory as the team celebrated in Ahmedabad.
The victorious RCB side were to return to their home city the day after and continue their celebrations with the fans on the streets of Bengaluru.
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The jubilant fans started to gather in numbers to welcome their heroes, however, 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 critically injured.
After RCB legend Kohli paid his tribute to the deceased, now mentor Dinesh Karthik shared his thoughts on the tragic incident, as he too penned an emotional note.
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Dinesh Karthik pens heartfelt note to RCB fans after June 4 tragedy
The X handle of RCB shared their mentor Karthik's message, which read: "My heartfelt condolences go out to all of the families who lost loved ones on 4th June. I can’t begin to imagine what you must have gone through. I pray and hope that God gives you the strength to come through this and I ask all of our fans to join us in showing care and togetherness through this difficult time."
“My heartfelt condolences go out to all of the families who lost loved ones on 4th June. I can’t begin to imagine what you must have gone through. I pray and hope that God gives you the strength to come through this and I ask all of our fans to join us in showing care and… pic.twitter.com/KuqSI9qO7a
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 4, 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.