RCB addresses fans after three-month silence
Nearly three months after the June 4 stampede in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives and injured over 50, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has spoken publicly for the first time. The tragedy occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations of the franchise’s maiden IPL title win, when a crowd of nearly three lakh overwhelmed security arrangements.
RCB posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with a deeply emotional note, explaining its absence and introducing a new initiative called RCB CARES.
Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief.
This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you… pic.twitter.com/g0lOXAuYbd
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2025
“It’s been close to three months since we last posted here. The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief,” it posted on X.
“This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you enjoyed the most.. But June 4th changed everything. That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space,” it said.
“In that silence, we’ve been grieving. Listening. Learning. And slowly, we’ve begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in. That’s how RCB CARES came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans,” it added.
“We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka. RCB CARES. And we always will,” the post read.
RCB CARES: a platform for healing and action
The new initiative, RCB CARES, is framed as more than a symbolic gesture — a community-driven platform designed to support fans, promote healing, and create meaningful action in the aftermath of the June 4 tragedy.
In announcing its return to social media, RCB made clear the message was not about celebration but about solidarity, reaffirming its commitment to stand with the supporters most deeply affected.
RCB director Mo Bobat: “Fans waited 18 years”
RCB director Mo Bobat reflected on the tragedy, linking the team’s long-awaited IPL triumph with the devastating events that followed.
“Cricket and the IPL is so much about passion and enjoyment, and one of our biggest motivators is our fans. We talked during the competition that we want to win it for our fans. They’ve been the patient ones. Some of us are new. These fans have waited 18 years, so we wanted to do it for them, and for some of them to have lost their lives just feels incredibly sad. We look forward to being able to recognise those people and their families,” he told Cricbuzz.
Fallout from the June 4 tragedy
The aftermath of the stampede has been far-reaching. A Justice John Michael Cunha Commission investigation declared the M Chinnaswamy Stadium “unsuitable and unsafe” for large-scale events. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) also noted that RCB bore responsibility for unilaterally announcing the celebrations without securing police permissions, though it defended law enforcement, citing the impossibility of controlling such massive crowds.
The Karnataka government suspended four senior police officers following the incident but has since reinstated them, pending disciplinary proceedings.
A painful chapter and a new beginning
The tragedy has left an indelible mark on RCB’s history, turning what should have been a moment of unbridled joy into one of grief and reflection. With RCB CARES, the franchise is attempting to channel that grief into action, standing alongside its fan base while seeking to ensure the victims and their families remain remembered as part of the team’s journey.
