Sachin Tendulkar reacts to deadly stampede at RCB victory celebration

Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The incident occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) celebration after they won their maiden IPL title in 18 years.

RCB had defeated Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Thousands of excited fans gathered outside the Bengaluru stadium the next day to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Stampede Turns Celebration Into Tragedy

However, the crowd grew uncontrollable. As a result, a stampede broke out. Eleven people lost their lives, and 33 others suffered injuries.

Reacting to the heartbreaking news, Tendulkar posted on X (formerly Twitter), “What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all.”

BCCI, IPL Officials Respond

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which oversees the IPL, also issued a statement. The board called the incident “unfortunate.”

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated, “This is a negative side of popularity. People are fan of their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better.”

Meanwhile, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal offered his condolences and highlighted the lack of coordination. Speaking to ANI, he said, “This is a very unfortunate incident… We had no information that such an event was being planned… If such events are planned in the future, then proper arrangements should be made…”

He further added, “Those who were sitting inside the stadium had no information about the incident. We express condolences to the families of the deceased. A title win was to be celebrated; rather, the loss of lives is being mourned.”

Open-Bus Parade Cancelled

Despite the chaos outside, the celebration inside Chinnaswamy Stadium went ahead as scheduled. However, the open-bus parade, which had received approval from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was cancelled.

Players Celebrate With Fans

Inside the stadium, the players still marked their historic win. Star batter Virat Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar addressed the cheering fans. Afterward, the team walked around the ground with the trophy, waving to the crowd.