“I’ve Been Thinking of and Praying for the Families…” – Kohli Opens Up After June 4 Tragedy

 

91 days after the tragic stampede in Bengaluru, India cricket star and RCB icon Virat Kohli made his first public statement about the incident. He described the stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations on June 4 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as a moment that turned joy into deep sorrow. The tragedy claimed 11 lives and left many others injured.

Sharing his thoughts on social media platform X, RCB posted Virat Kohli’s message about the tragedy. The former RCB captain paid tribute to the fans who lost their lives or were injured in the stampede and promised to move forward with care, respect and responsibility. His statement is part of the team’s ‘RCB CARES’ initiative, aimed at improving crowd management and preventing incidents like the June 4 tragedy in the future.

“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 said.

“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

Kohli’s statement comes as questions continue about how the victory celebrations were planned and handled. Investigations found that RCB had not gotten the necessary permissions for the large gathering and the huge crowd, estimated in lakhs, exceeded the stadium’s capacity after open invitations were shared on social media. The police were reportedly unprepared and unable to manage the surge. In response, RCB has started a new initiative called ‘RCB Cares’ to improve fan safety and crowd management in a more organized way.

RCB Foundation Pledges Support to Affected Families

The RCB foundation, now a key part of the team’s outreach, has pledged ₹25 lakh for each family affected by the tragedy. But Kohli and the team say the focus is on supporting and honoring their fans, the 12th Man Army through meaningful action. As part of ‘RCB Cares,’ the franchise will work with the IPL and Karnataka State Cricket Association to improve crowd management, including fan-safety audits, annual staff training, research on public safety, creating permanent stadium jobs and preserving the memory of fans lost. The initiative is still waiting for government approval.

Kohli, who has been with RCB for over a decade, said the loss is now part of the team’s journey and added, “Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility.”