“Silence wasn't absence”- RCB posts heartfelt letter to fans on social media hush on stampede tragedy

On June 3, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings by six runs to win their first IPL title, ending their long wait. The team intended to host a gathering at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium to commemorate this happy occasion with their supporters, but the festivities were marred by an unanticipated tragedy.

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Fans got a peek of their idols, who ended the 18-year wait for the title, as players like Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and others arrived at the stadiums. However, a deadly rush outside the stadium abruptly put an end to these festivities.

Up to 11 people were killed in the stampede, while about 50 more were injured. RCB was heavily criticized, a formal complaint was filed, and charges were brought against them for organizing a badly run event.

“That day broke our hearts”—RCB’s open letter to fans on social media silence after Chinnaswamy stampede

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On August 28, the franchise broke its vow to remain completely silent on social media for the ensuing months.In order to address the complaints and issues of their supporters, the Bengaluru-based team finally broke its silence and announced the creation of "RCB CARES" on X (previously Twitter).

“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 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. 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 honor, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans. 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. More details soon..." - RCB posted on X.

https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1960923232170819738

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The families of the eleven individuals who perished in the stampede would receive Rs 10 lakh in compensation, as RCB had already pledged on June 5.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has faced severe repercussions post the stampede tragedy. It lost the hosting rights for the Maharaja T20 trophy that was moved to Mysuru. Bengaluru was also one of the venues for matches of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

However, Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium has replaced M Chinnaswamy Stadium as the venue due to "unforeseen circumstances," the ICC announced.

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