
Sportstar Podcast: Processing the deadly RCB Chinnaswamy Stampede and its harsh lessons
18 years - that's how long players, stakeholders and fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru waited to taste success in the Indian Premier League. It was a charmed campaign which finished with an allround effort against Punjab Kings in the final at Ahmedabad. Front and centre of the victory was Virat Kohli - a player who stayed loyal to the club since its inception in 2008. He has become synonymous with the franchise and was understandably the headline in the team's maiden IPL triumph.
Even before the victory was secured, Bengaluru was out on the streets celebrating. Fireworks, scores of fans dancing on Church Street, social media abuzz with relieved fans who finally had a trophy to flaunt, all ran alongside the squad lifting the cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Players were ready to join the city in festivities but under 24 hours later, proceedings took a deadly turn.
A tragic stampede occurred outside the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during celebrations for the team's IPL victory, leaving 11 dead and over 50 people injured.
In this episode of the Sportstar Podcast, host Lavanya Lakshminarayanan is joined by N. Sudarshan and photojournalist K. Murali Kumar from the Bengaluru bureau and Amol Karhadkar and photojournalist Emmanual Yogini who covered the massive victory parade for the T20 World Cup win last year in Mumbai, as we try to make sense of the incident and try and learn lessons from it.
Listen to the episode here:
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NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Action Sought Against Karnataka Over Damage To Bengaluru Park During RCB Event
A citizens' group in Bengaluru has sought action against the Karnataka government and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru alleging damage to the fence of their park during last week's stampede. The Cubbon Park Walkers' Association has written to the local police. "The recent episode of Victory Celebration of R C B, at KSCA Stadium by the organization namely DNA among others including the Govt. of Karnataka, the same was handled without any preparation which resulted the crowd who thronged in to the Cubbon Park thereby damaging the fence, ornamental plants, branches of trees and also defecated the area without any preventive measures taken by the Government," the letter read. "It is also brought to your kind notice that the onus is also on the Karnataka Sub Area as the stadium land and wireless Office situate belongs to the Army. There is no document to show transfer of the land by the Army to the State Government or to KSCA by the Army. Hence this complaint is also directed against the Army Head Quarters Subarea as they failed in their duty to maintain law and order," the note read. Accusing the state government of "dereliction of duty," and the army of "failing in their duty to maintain law and order" the walkers wrote that "action may be taken against the Government of Karnataka, KSCA Organization, DNA, Army Sub Area, R. C. B. Hence the complaint may be taken and action in accordance to law". Eleven people died and 47 were injured during Wednesday's stampede in Bengaluru during the felicitation of the RCB players after they won their maiden IPL. Lakhs of fans, who had waited 18 years for the day, had gathered at the Chinnaswamy stadium. But the lack of adequate preparation on part of the authorities had led to a tragedy.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Sunil Gavaskar's bold perspective on tragic Bengaluru stampede: 'If RCB had won in first few years, there would…'
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where 11 people lost their lives during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title win. The mismanagement led to a tragic incident where 11 people died and over 50 were injured following a stampede near the stadium on Wednesday, as a large number of people gathered to participate in the team's victory celebrations. Gavaskar was deeply saddened by the tragedy and also acknowledged the overwhelming emotions of RCB fans, who had waited 18 long years to celebrate their team's first IPL title. The batting great, who did commentating duties during the IPL, lauded RCB for their amazing season on the field, which led to their maiden title. 'If RCB had won the Trophy in the first few years, there would not have been this outpouring of emotion as happened after the long wait of 18 years. Other teams have won but their celebrations have been a lot less frenetic maybe because their fans didn't have to wait this long. The slogan 'Ee saala cup naamde' seemed to be like a millstone around the necks of the team. This year, when that slogan was barely heard, the team played some superb cricket, most of it away from their fans," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid Day. The legendary batter highlighted RCB's remarkable record in away games during IPL 2025, noting that fans had gathered to give the team a special ovation for their efforts. He also extended heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones in the heartbreaking incident. 'They won every single game they played away, which is a new record in the IPL. No wonder the home fans wanted to give them a special ovation. Heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Prayers of the fans can change fortunes, and there's no doubt that the prayers of their loved ones made a contribution to bringing that elusive Cup to Bengaluru,' he added. Gavaskar reflected on the heartbreaking tragedy while also highlighting the deep love RCB fans have for their team, who brought them immense joy over the past two months and finally ended their long wait for an IPL title. 'What a tragedy? The loss of lives due to a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium is heartbreaking indeed. All that those people wanted was a glimpse of the players who had given them so much joy and happiness over the years, especially in the last two months. The IPL Trophy, which they kept hoping would be theirs every year but never did, was finally coming to them after a wait of 18 years," he added. RCB have faced strong backlash for proceeding with the victory celebrations just a day after their title win, leaving the administration and police with little time to put proper security measures in place for an event of that scale. The newly-crowned champions announced a financial assistance of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the 11 supporters, who lost their lives in the tragic stampede. 'It was totally understandable for their joy to know no bounds and they wanted to show it to their heroes. Maybe even see them up close, maybe even touch them, maybe even get a quick photo with them. Haven't we all been fans of someone before and perhaps still are and want to see them and have a brief hello and then perhaps a photo with them?' Gavaskar concluded.


News18
an hour ago
- News18
IPL Needs 12-16 Week Season To Compete With NFL, NBA: Punjab Kings Co-Owner
Last Updated: Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman feels a 12–16-week IPL season will boost the tournament's brand value, rivaling the NFL and NBA. The Indian Premier League (IPL) requires a 12–16-week operating window to rival the brand value of leading global sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and Premier League, according to Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman. With a per-match value of USD 16.8 million, the IPL ranks second only to the NFL (USD 36.8 million). However, it still trails its global competitors in overall brand value. According to investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL is valued at approximately USD 16 billion. By comparison, a single NFL franchise, the Dallas Cowboys, is worth USD 9 billion, followed by the New York Yankees at USD 7.1 billion. The NBA's New York Knicks are valued at USD 7 billion, while leading football clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United each hold a valuation of USD 6 billion. The longer operating windows of the Premier League (August to May), NBA (seven months), and NFL (4.5 months) contribute to their higher valuations compared to the current eight-week IPL season. In an interview with PTI, Burman discussed the future of the IPL and the remarkable turnaround of Punjab Kings, who reached the final after 11 years. 'We're already second in the world when it comes to per-match value, just behind the NFL. But overall brand value? That's a different game. I think we need a 12-16-week window to get there," said Burman. 'That gives us space to tell better stories, build rivalries, and create more value for everyone – fans, sponsors, broadcasters. But it's not just about length. It's about what we do in that time – the kind of content we push out, how we engage fans year-round, how we build the league beyond the season. IPL has the scale. Now it's about consistency and depth." 'The IPL is already the biggest cricket product in the world, but staying there means not taking anything for granted. Player availability is crucial. We need a clean window where the best in the world can play without restrictions," said the 56-year-old businessman. 'The fan experience must keep evolving. It's not just about cricket anymore — its sport, entertainment, culture all rolled into one. We don't need to take the IPL abroad — what we do need is to build global relevance. Content, players, and stories that connect with fans across the world." Burman also supports the strategic move of IPL owners investing in overseas leagues. Alongside Punjab Kings, he and other co-owners have invested in the Saint Lucia franchise of the Caribbean Premier League. Other IPL teams have expanded their ownership in multiple leagues, including SA20, ILT20, MLC, CPL, and The Hundred. 'It's a smart and strategic move. A lot of teams are now building a common core — with shared vision, systems, and values — across multiple leagues. That's what makes it sustainable and scalable," he said when asked about the trend of IPL teams expanding overseas . 'For us, the goal is clear: build the Kings ecosystem across geographies and formats. Whether it's IPL or CPL, we want to run our teams with the same purpose — high performance, strong culture, and deeper fan connection. We're not just creating teams — we're building a brand that travels. And this is just the beginning," he said. Financially, the IPL and its franchises have seen significant growth since the league's inception in 2008. 'They go hand in hand. Strong on-field performances drive commercial growth — that's the reality. Brands want to be part of winning stories. We've seen that this year — we're up 25% year-on-year commercially. 'More fan engagement, stronger sponsor interest, and better value across the board. This season proves that when your on-field and off-field stories align — that's where the real magic happens," he said. The turning point for Punjab Kings came with the appointment of Ricky Ponting, which transformed the team's energy and mindset. 'The real turning point came when we took a step back to think the direction of the franchise. Getting Ricky Ponting on board was the first step in our revamp. His arrival transformed the energy — and the mindset," said Burman. 'Then came the auction, where we made strategic choice on balance, clarity, and intent. Backing Shreyas as captain was another big moment — he brought composure, vision, and a sense of Unity. 'They didn't just see Punjab Kings as a franchise. They saw it as a project with potential. There's no hierarchy here — just one team, moving toward one goal. That's a powerful thing. 'Off the field, we rewired everything — from marketing and storytelling to fan engagement. Commercially, we've seen strong growth. But what I'm most proud of is the culture — one rooted in belief, joy, and accountability. That's been the true foundation of the success," he added. (With inputs from PTI)