New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said it will examine the circumstances that led to the stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory celebrations, which resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people and left several others injured outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. The board also clarified that it had no prior knowledge of the victory parade organized by the franchise.
Speaking to media, IPL Governing Council chairman Arun Dhumal expressed shock over the tragedy and said the BCCI is committed to ensuring such incidents are never repeated. “We have taken note and will ensure that such incidents never happen again. We had no knowledge of any victory parade or celebration in Bengaluru. We don’t know who organized it or how such a large crowd was allowed to gather,” Dhumal said.
The stampede occurred hours before a felicitation ceremony for the RCB players, who were celebrating their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title after an 18-year wait. Despite warnings from the police to postpone or alter the nature of the event, the franchise proceeded with its original plan.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia also stressed that while the board currently has no jurisdiction over a franchise’s private celebrations, the incident must serve as a wake-up call. “This is an eye-opener. Every year, one team will win, and celebrations are natural. But what happened in Bengaluru should never happen again. We need to reflect on this and explore ways to ensure safety during such events,” he said in an interview with The Indian Express.
Saikia highlighted the contrast with the IPL final held a day earlier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where meticulous planning ensured crowd safety despite a turnout of over 1.3 lakh spectators. “We had 1,32,000 people at the stadium, and not a single untoward incident occurred. Every safety detail was taken care of—proper policing, controlled entry and exit, crowd management. Something clearly went wrong in Bengaluru, but the BCCI had no involvement in that event,” he said.
As investigations continue, the BCCI is expected to initiate discussions with franchises and local authorities to formulate a clear set of guidelines for post-tournament celebrations. The goal is to ensure public safety is prioritized while allowing fans and players to commemorate their achievements.
