“If RCB had won the trophy in the first few years, then…”, Sunil Gavaskar gave a shocking statement on Bangalore stampede

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season was supposed to be a historic celebration for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and their loyal fanbase. After years of heartbreak and close finishes, RCB finally lifted the IPL trophy by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final. The victory marked their first-ever IPL title, ending an 18-year-long wait for both the players and the fans. Naturally, the joy among supporters knew no bounds. RCB's fans, famously passionate and loyal, took to the streets to celebrate what they had waited for nearly two decades. In honor of this long-awaited moment, the franchise organized a grand victory parade in Bengaluru to thank the fans and celebrate together. However, the happiness soon turned into unimaginable sorrow.

The scene outside the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru became tragic as a massive crowd gathered to witness the celebration and get a glimpse of their heroes. Amidst the overwhelming turnout, chaos erupted, and a devastating stampede occurred. In this unfortunate incident, 11 people lost their lives, and more than 50 others were injured. What was meant to be a joyous day turned into one of mourning. The Bengaluru police quickly launched an investigation, registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), the RCB management, and the event management company DNA Entertainment. Several arrests were made, and blame was directed at the lack of crowd control and poor event planning.

In the aftermath, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his thoughts on the incident. In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar gave a sobering reflection on the situation. He remarked that while victory celebrations are natural, the extent of frenzy seen during RCB’s parade was unlike what had been seen before. According to him, one of the main reasons behind the overwhelming emotion and chaotic celebration was the prolonged wait for the title. “If RCB had won the trophy in the early years of the IPL, there might not have been such an emotional outpouring,” he wrote. Gavaskar observed that teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings celebrated their victories with energy but with more restraint—perhaps because their fanbases did not endure such a long wait.

Gavaskar also acknowledged the weight of the "Ee Sala Cup Namde" slogan, which had become both a rallying cry and a burden for RCB over the years. The slogan, which means "This year, the cup is ours" in Kannada, represented the collective hope and longing of the fans. According to Gavaskar, that same emotional pressure likely contributed to the massive turnout and the intense celebrations, as the fans were finally seeing their dream come true. “The team played brilliant cricket this year,” Gavaskar added, noting that RCB had set a record by winning all their away matches.

Gavaskar extended his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He reflected on the power of fan support, saying, “Fans’ prayers can change fate, and there is no doubt that the prayers of their loved ones helped bring that cup to Bangalore.” He closed his thoughts by lamenting the tragedy, writing, “What a tragedy this is. The death of people outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium is heartbreaking. They only wanted to catch a glimpse of the players who gave them so much happiness.”

The 2025 IPL win will forever remain a bittersweet memory for RCB fans. It brought immense pride and joy, but also sorrow and loss that will never be forgotten.