Anushka Sharma, actress and wife of RCB player Virat Kohli, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic events that unfolded in Bengaluru during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. She shared the team’s official statement on Instagram, accompanied by a series of broken heart emojis, showing her grief over the incident.
RCB released a statement acknowledging the heartbreaking situation that arose during the public gatherings organised to welcome the team after their historic IPL win. The franchise stated that they were distressed by the reports of chaos and loss of life. They emphasised that the safety and well-being of the public was their top priority and expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. RCB also mentioned that they had immediately revised their plans once they were informed of the worsening crowd conditions and cooperated fully with local authorities.
The statement read, “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 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.”
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The tragic incident took place outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday evening, where huge crowds had assembled to see the players being honored by the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The celebration followed RCB’s long-awaited maiden IPL title win the previous night against Punjab Kings, a moment fans had waited 18 years for.
While the team’s win was a cause for jubilation, the sheer number of people who gathered, many without entry passes, quickly led to an uncontrollable situation. The Karnataka State Cricket Association had planned a felicitation ceremony inside the stadium but crowd control measures proved insufficient. Eyewitnesses described people climbing over fences and scaling walls in an attempt to get inside, all in hopes of catching a glimpse of their cricketing heroes. As the rush intensified, the crowd movement became dangerous and resulted in a deadly stampede.
At least 11 people lost their lives and more than 30 were injured in the incident. Just hours earlier, Anushka Sharma had been a part of the victory parade, riding with Virat Kohli and the RCB squad through the city’s streets, celebrating the landmark win.
The mood, which had been full of excitement and pride, quickly shifted to grief as news of the stampede broke, casting a dark shadow over what should have been a historic and joyful occasion for the team and their fans.
