The Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans were overjoyed when their team won its first IPL title in June. But the next day, a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during their victory celebrations killed 11 spectators and hurt more than 50 more. After a long silence that made many angry across the country, the franchise has finally spoken up. They are giving each victim’s family ₹25 lakh in financial aid and starting a new program called “RCB Cares.”
“Our hearts broke on June 4, 2025,” RCB said in a message on social media. We lost eleven people who were part of the RCB family… No amount of help can ever make up for the loss they’ve caused. But as a first start, RCB has given each family ₹25 lakh, which is a lot of money, with the utmost respect. The statement also talked about “RCB Cares,” which is a “long-term commitment to meaningful action that begins by honoring their memory.”
The announcement comes after a lot of public attention. The Karnataka government blamed the franchise for bad event management right after the incident, which happened when a huge crowd of more than 2 lakh people tried to get into the stadium. RCB sent out a short condolence message at first, but then they didn’t say anything on social media for three months. Many people thought this was a hint that they didn’t care.
Many fans and critics think that the franchise’s current step is more of a delayed attempt to fix things than a real act of kindness. RCB’s statement on social media on Thursday ended a long break, and the squad said they had been silent because they were “grief.”
The stampede has had effects that go beyond the personal sorrow. The ICC has shifted Bengaluru’s hosting rights for the Women’s ODI World Cup to Mumbai and the Maharaja T20 Trophy to Mysuru since the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is not equipped to host important events. Criminal charges have also been brought against officials from RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the police in the area.