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From memes to champions, the RCB faithful rejoice
New Delhi: As the fireworks laced the night sky in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad on Tuesday night, there was jubilance as well as relief of a burden lifting off the shoulders of those who stuck with Royal Challengers Bengaluru for years. Royal Challengers Bengaluru conquered their final frontier by getting the better of Punjab Kings by six runs. (AFP) Chants of ‘RCB, RCB’ reverberated on the streets everywhere but they echoed even across living rooms all over India. Such had been the dedication of RCB fans that these chants had been heard even in random international matches, especially if their talisman Virat Kohli was playing. The win in Ahmedabad thus was more than a championship. It was a release, a reward, 18 years in the making. For much of their history, RCB fans had become something of a punchline in Indian cricket – the team with stars, not trophies. The perpetual underachievers. But through it all, through the three previous finals with nothing to show for it, the memes and the meltdowns, a community was formed, friendships forged. “You stick through. We stuck through, like a parent doesn’t give up on their kid, no matter what,” said Dinky Mehta, an RCB fan in Delhi. “My support wasn’t dependent on trophies. We had none. My heart just lies with them and it will continue to.” Kohli – the face of the franchise for these 18-long years – was his most emotional self amid the eruption of joy. For many fans, his reaction mirrored their own. As RCB lifted the trophy after beating Punjab Kings, it felt like a collective wound was healing. Dinky was watching the match at a screening as RCB made the breakthrough, and while fans around her erupted with joy, she stood there, tears streaming down her face, with a sense of fulfilment. Arfan MU, who is recognised on X for his loyalty to the Bengaluru franchise and support and humour through each unsuccessful season, sits through each RCB match without missing a delivery. It wasn’t any different on Tuesday night. “I was numb, tears rolling down in the last over. I just screamed, hugged all the RCB fans around and they were the best hugs of my life. I was shivering because the dream is a reality now. I danced around like that baby who gets a new toy,” he said. Naturally, new fans will come in. Some may never understand the pain that was endured before the glory. The old guard though will recall the 2016 final heartbreak, the social media trolling and ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’ memes. “RCB is an emotion and it can teach you about life. You fall 17 times, you get mocked, you get trolled but the one time that you stand up, the world will be yours,” Arfan added. Yash Saxena often tells his friends in Barcelona – many of them don’t follow cricket – that supporting RCB is like rooting for a middle-class working man. Someone who keeps winning the small battles, yet rarely gets the applause because ultimate success is elusive. “Kohli is responsible for me and a lot of others sticking with this team. If he can show that loyalty and be their face through the failures, we do the same,” he said. “This win pumps me to do great things in life. It has pushed me to keep going even as I go through my personal challenges.” Such was the relentless grind that even AB de Villiers, who spent a decade with RCB, had vowed to be present if they made the final. Chris Gayle, who played for RCB from 2011 to 2017, stood proudly on the podium as they lifted the trophy. For Kohli, they too had earned that moment. “You ought to respect the connection even some of the past players have to this team. Even those who were with RCB for a short-term have found so much joy… There’s just something magical about them,” he said. The community built around waiting got its moment. It was almost bizarre watching the devotion of RCB fans through these years – loyal beyond reason. They waited and suffered, and now get to rejoice.
‘1 parade, 0 brains & now 7 funerals’: Netizens criticise RCB after stampede turns deadly | Cricket News
Bengaluru: Security personnel try to manage the crowd of fans gathered for the felicitation of IPL 2025 winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru team, near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (PTI Photo) A tragic stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever IPL victory celebrations on Wednesday left over 50 fans injured and eight people feared dead. The incident occurred as fans gathered to celebrate RCB’s IPL 2025 trophy win.The stampede happened when thousands of fans tried to rush into the stadium through various gates simultaneously. Police had to transport the injured to ambulances and move them to nearby Bowring Hospital.The authorities confirmed that two bodies are at Bowring Hospital and four at Vaidehi Hospital. Six persons are receiving treatment in Vaidehi Hospital’s ICU, with three others admitted to intensive care. Sources confirmed two additional deaths. ‘A particularly special feeling’: Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win Emergency response was hampered as ambulances struggled to navigate through overcrowded roads to reach hospitals.The Karnataka government had previously cancelled the victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium due to security concerns.“Unbelievable! Victory celebration broadcast of RCB parade continues. No mention of stampede. NOT DONE,” read a post on X.“1 parade, 0 brains, & now 7 funerals. What kind of idiots plans a mass celebration without barricades, without strategy? This isn’t a celebration gone wrong, this is an administration that went brain-dead,” posted a user on X.“The most gut-wrenching aspect of the #ChinnaswamyStadium stampede is the shocking apathy shown—celebrations continued as bodies lay lifeless. Where is our humanity? These young Kannadigas died for nothing, without even respect in death. It’s disgraceful, inhuman, and unforgivable. Those responsible must be named, shamed, and held criminally accountable,” posted another user.The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with people questioning why celebrations continued while people were fighting for their lives outside the stadium.
Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings, TNPLT20, Today Match Prediction
𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : June 05,Thursday𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:15 PM IST𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : SNR College Cricket Stadium, Coimbatore, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Tamil Nadu Premier League, 2025 Dindigul Dragons faced Lyca Kovai Kings twice in the last TNPL season and came out on top both times. Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. DID vs LKK Match Prediction & Analysis The 9th season of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) kicks off on June 5, giving cricket fans something fresh to look forward to after the Indian Premier League wraps up. Last year, the Dindigul Dragons finally clinched the trophy after years of trying. In this new edition, they’ll aim to ride that same winning wave as they face off against Lyca Kovai Kings in the opening match of the tournament. TEAMS PREVIEW Dindigul Dragons Preview Dindigul Dragons had a standout run last season, finishing fourth in the group stage before winning every playoff match and clinching the title by defeating Lyca Kovai Kings in the final. The core of the team is still intact this time, which suggests they’re in for another strong showing. Shivam Singh will once again be the go-to batter. He topped the run charts in last year’s TNPL with 364 runs from 9 innings, averaging 45 and striking at 135. Baba Indrajith and Ravichandran Ashwin also chipped in with steady performances, both crossing the 250-run mark. Indrajith, in particular, will be a central figure again thanks to his ability to anchor the innings. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier will lead the bowling charge. They both picked up 12 wickets last season, making them the most successful bowlers for the team. Chakaravarthy has been in sensational touch this year, impressing in the IPL and helping India win the Champions Trophy. He should carry that momentum into this tournament. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ganeshan Periyaswamy will also play pivotal roles with the ball. Lyca Kovai Kings Preview Lyca Kovai Kings were the most consistent side in TNPL 2024’s group stage, finishing on top with six wins out of seven. Their only defeat came at the hands of Dindigul Dragons, who also beat them in the final. This season, the Kings will be out to go all the way—but first, they’ll have to get past their longtime rivals. One major absence is Sai Sudharsan, who was in great touch last year and ended as their leading run-scorer. He won’t be available this time due to national duty. That puts more weight on skipper Shahrukh Khan, who stepped up last year with 225 runs in 7 innings, averaging 45 and scoring at a strike rate of 183. He’ll be joined in the batting order by Balasubramaniam Sachin, K Vishal Vaidhya, and Suresh Lokeshwar to help keep things steady. Jhathavedh Subramanyan is expected to lead the bowling unit. He had a strong campaign last year, grabbing 8 wickets while keeping things tight with an economy of 6.09. M Siddharth is another solid option, having been among the most successful bowlers for the Kings. Guru Raghavendran and Govinth G will complete the attack with added depth and different styles. Weather Conditions The pitch at the SNR College Cricket Stadium isn’t as batter-friendly as some other grounds in India. It usually offers decent scoring opportunities, but there’s help for bowlers too. Spinners, in particular, tend to make an impact during the middle phase of the innings. As for the weather in Coimbatore, expect cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, which might delay the start of play. DID vs LKK Pitch Report The average score batting first at SNR College Cricket Stadium is 151. The highest total posted here is Nellai Royal Kings’ 236-2 against Ruby Trichy Warriors in TNPL 2022. With that in mind, both sides will likely aim for something in the 170 to 180 range to feel like they’ve put up a strong enough total. Toss: To Bowl Fielding teams generally have the upper hand at the SNR College Cricket Ground. During the previous season, five out of seven completed games here were won by teams that batted second.
Watch: Fans climb trees and buses to witness RCB’s IPL victory | Cricket News
Bengaluru: An aerial view of fans gathering for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s fan engagement programme (PTI Photo) Bengaluru came alive on Wednesday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) returned home with their first IPL trophy. Thousands of fans filled the streets, stood on rooftops, and gathered around Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium just to see their favourite players — especially Virat Kohli, who has been part of the team for 18 years. The RCB squad, led by Rajat Patidar, landed in the city around noon. They were welcomed at the airport by Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. The team then went to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha, where a short ceremony was held to honour their achievement. ‘A particularly special feeling’: Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win “Virat Kohli has given his youth and heart to RCB. Today, he has made Karnataka proud,” Shivakumar said. After meeting the CM, the players got on an open-top bus for a victory parade to Chinnaswamy Stadium. Fans lined up along the route, many waving flags, holding posters, and cheering loudly. Some climbed trees, buses and walls for a better view. It was a special moment for everyone who had supported the team for years.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the final, finally ending their 18-year wait for the title. The celebrations started early in the day and continued into the evening at the stadium, where fans were allowed in to be part of the moment. For RCB and their fans, it was more than just a win as it was the end of a long wait.
RCB’s victory parade turns deadly: How events unfolded at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Newly-crowned IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru were greeted with a thunderous and emotional reception as passionate fans flooded the streets and gathered in massive numbers at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to catch a glimpse of their heroes—most notably the ever-iconic Virat Kohli. It was yet another major milestone for Kohli, who has remained loyal to RCB since the inception of the league.Wednesday witnessed a mix of jubilation and tragedy. While fans celebrated with euphoric chants and cheers, the excitement unfortunately turned into chaos, with a stampede leaving several injured and claiming lives.TimesofIndia.com takes you through a timeline of how the day unfolded:– The RCB team, led by skipper Rajat Patidar, landed at Bengaluru airport. The players and support staff were welcomed with loud cheers and were formally received by Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.– The squad then proceeded to meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha. Jubilant fans lined the route, waving flags and raising chants to celebrate the team’s long-awaited IPL triumph.– At Vidhana Soudha, the team was officially felicitated by the state government. The ceremony began with the national anthem and was attended by CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and other key officials. ‘A particularly special feeling’: Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win – Post-felicitation, the players made their way to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a special fan-engagement event. Thousands had already gathered at the venue in anticipation, eager to celebrate alongside their beloved RCB.– The triumphant RCB squad arrived at Chinnaswamy Stadium to an electrifying atmosphere.– Tragedy struck as reports emerged of a stampede near the stadium gates. Several people were feared dead and many injured as the crowd surged to enter the premises.– Despite the grim development, RCB conducted a victory lap inside the stadium, proudly displaying the hard-earned IPL trophy that had eluded them for 18 seasons.– Addressing the crowd during the felicitation, Virat Kohli shared an emotional message:“I don’t have much time, we need to wrap this up and show you the trophy so please let me talk. I am going to start off by repeating what our captain said after we won the trophy. It’s no more ee sala cup namde, it’s ee sala cup namdu. We have done it, this is not just for the players or someone like me who has been here for 18 years but for all of you, the people of this wonderful city. People who have supported RCB through all these 18 years. The trust and love you have for the team is truly special, I have never seen any fan base anywhere in the world like you. So congratulations to all of you.”
BCCI break silence on stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium: ‘Totally shocking. There have been lapses’ | Cricket News
Karnataka Police resort to lathicharge to contain the crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during RCB’s IPL trophy celebrations. (PTI) A tragic incident unfolded at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday when at least eight people died and more than 40 were injured in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations. The celebration was meant to mark the team’s first IPL championship after an 18-year wait, following their victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.The situation turned chaotic as thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of the Rajat Patidar-led team. Police forces struggled to maintain control of the crowds, eventually resorting to mild force to manage the situation.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The incident prompted an immediate response from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who acknowledged serious security lapses in the organisation of the victory celebration. Poll Should the BCCI prioritize safety over celebration in future events? “This incident of deaths due to stampede is totally shocking for us. We at BCCI extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We also pray for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured. When one organises a victory celebrations of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety and security measures need to be taken. There has been some lapses in some corner somewhere. Due diligence should have been done so that an incident like this could have been avoided,” Saikia told news agency PTI.The BCCI secretary also expressed concern about the ongoing celebrations, hoping to prevent any further incidents.Saikia drew a comparison to recent successful crowd management efforts, highlighting the IPL finals at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium and the T20 World Cup victory parade in Mumbai. Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans at the Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru during the team’s felicitation ceremony. (AP) “I have heard that celebrations are on and I sincerely hope that nothing untoward happens. Even yesterday in Ahmedabad, during IPL finals, there were 120,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium. But BCCI has a dedicated team which has done elaborate planning in coordination with local district administration and law enforcing authorities to ensure that safety and security of the spectators,” he said.He further elaborated on the BCCI’s approach to organising large-scale celebrations, citing the T20 World Cup victory parade as an example.“When we organised the Victory parade in Mumbai after the T20 World Cup, we had spoken to the local authorities and made elaborate arrangements keeping in mind the safety and security of the crowd who had come to see their heroes,” Saikia added.
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‘DISGRACED’: BCCI shocked but has ‘no role’ in Bengaluru stampede that caused deaths, injuries during RCB victory parade
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s celebration of their maiden IPL title – ending an 18-year-long wait – turned into chaos on Wednesday, after a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium left four people dead and several injured. Calling it a “shocking” incident, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia blamed lapses in security arrangements and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. Speaking to Hindustan Times, the top BCCI official said that he is disgraced by the incident. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia reacted after deaths, injuries were reported due to stampede outside Chinnaswamy(AP) Thousands gathered outside the Chinnaswamy stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite RCB stars, who beat the Punjab Kings on Tuesday in Ahmedabad to win the IPL title. But the police struggled to take control of the situation, forced to resort to mild force as well. “I am just not shocked but disgraced by this incident. This event of tragedy that has happened in the victory celebrations in Bengaluru today. It was such a wonderful and colourful closing of the IPL. It’s really shocking for us. We are really frustrated to hear this kind of news, and we are extremely sorry. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all the members of the bereaved families, and we also pray that whoever is injured will recover at the earliest,” the secretary said. The festive mood outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium quickly turned into agony as several ardent RCB supporters lost their lives because of the stampede. Many others had to be hospitalised as well. The RCB event continued irrespective, although Saikia insisted it is unfair to comment on why the celebrations went ahead. “I do not know. What is the ground reality? There may be a lot of other reasons. We don’t know what the further outcome could have been. It will not be proper for me to pass any comment. My only concern is that there must have been some serious lapses on the part of the organisers and the district authorities in allowing this kind of event where so many people gathered without following the due protocols of safety, security, and law and order,” he said. “Whenever BCCI or any cricket association organises this kind of events – like yesterday, also in Ahmedabad, where 1.3 lakh fans assembled in that stadium – you always take precautions, and there is proper planning with the district authorities and police. So that when there is a gathering of a huge number of people, certain protocols are to be maintained to ensure that no situation like this happens. For example, take last year’s World Cup-winning celebration in Mumbai after the T20 World Cup was won by India in the West Indies. There was proper planning by the BCCI. Despite so many people, not a single unfortunate incident happened because everything was done in a very systematic and disciplined manner,” he added. Saikia asserted that the proper protocols were not followed, and hence, a situation like this transpired. “The proper protocol was not maintained in Karnataka today in Bengaluru. It was such a short time. I do not know, it is not possible to plan this kind of event at such short notice. So maybe somebody has made some mistake at some point in time. As a result, this unfortunate event or tragedy has taken place as a result of which so many cricket lovers, so many cricket fans have lost their lives, and so many others have gotten injured in the incident,” he said. ‘Need to do some soul searching’ The BCCI secretary also stated that this incident in Bengaluru will now prompt the board to brainstorm with franchises on how celebrations need to be looked at once the IPL is over. “We hope good sense will prevail, and in future, whoever organises such events will follow the necessary protocols after having proper due diligence. The authorities are responsible for such celebrations. After the IPL is over, BCCI directly has no role to play,” he said. “That is why we are a little bit more shocked. Maybe we’ll have to think about the future because every year, there will be celebrations by the winning team in some cities. Maybe we’ll have to do some soul-searching and some brainstorming sessions to set some norms on how things can be celebrated so that in future this kind of tragedy is not repeated,” Saikia pointed out.
‘Let me speak…’: Virat Kohli struggles to speak as Bengaluru crowd goes crazy during IPL title celebrations | Cricket News
Virat Kohli (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebrated their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win at a felicitation event organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Star batter Virat Kohli praised captain Rajat Patidar’s leadership and the team’s loyal fanbase during the ceremony.“It is no more ee saala cup naam de (This year Cup will be ours), but ee saala cup naam du (This year cup is ours). This one is for you, fans, for this beautiful city, who have supported us for all these 18 years through thick and thin. I have never seen a fanbase like this anywhere in this world,” Kohli expressed during the ceremony.Kohli also revealed that during the RCB Unbox event, where the team’s new jersey and captain were unveiled, he had predicted Patidar’s long-term leadership potential. “Give him the loudest cheer, as he has proven himself in his first season as a captain,” he added.Patidar scored 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.00, including two fifties, while demonstrating effective tactical decisions and bowler rotation throughout the season.Kohli emerged as the franchise’s leading run-scorer and ranked third overall in the tournament with 657 runs in 15 matches, maintaining an average of 54.75 and a strike rate exceeding 144, including eight fifties. Virat Kohli’s love for ‘dhaba’ food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar shared his excitement with ANI: “The whole of Karnataka is excited. From the young generation to the old generation, everyone is happy. After a long wait of 18 years, we have got success. I congratulate Kohli for standing like a rock and appreciate his loyalty towards Karnataka. I hope this is the beginning, and the cup remains with RCB.”Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot stated: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 trophy. On behalf of the Karnataka government and the public, I congratulate them. May they continue to play like this and make Karnataka and the nation proud.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?In the final match, PBKS won the toss and chose to field. Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) provided crucial breakthroughs, while Yuzi Chahal (1/37) contained the batting.Kohli scored 43 runs off 35 balls with three fours, while Patidar (26 in 16 balls), Jitesh Sharma (24 in 10 balls), and Liam Livingstone (25 in 15 balls) contributed to RCB’s total of 190/9 in 20 overs. IPL 2025 Final | Rishi Sunak Interview: ‘I am a big Virat Kohli fan… RCB is my team’ PBKS’s chase began strongly with Priyansh Arya (24 in 19 balls) and Prabhsimran (26 in 22 balls) forming a 43-run partnership.Josh Inglis (39 in 23 balls) and Shashank Singh (61- in 30 balls) fought hard to keep up with the required rate, but Krunal Pandya (2/17), Yash Dayal (1/18), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38) restricted PBKS to 184/7.Despite Shashank Singh’s impressive 22-run final over when needing 29, PBKS fell short in their second-ever final and first in 11 years, while RCB secured their maiden IPL title.