Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first IPL trophy in the recently concluded 2025 season, capping an 18-year wait for the team and its ardent fans. The title victory prompted celebrations across India, particularly in Bengaluru.
However, a distressing video depicting a fan’s love to the franchise’s legendary batter, Virat Kohli, has gone viral.
After RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad, people throng the streets to celebrate their victory. On June 4, a large felicitation ceremony was organised at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, inadequate preparation and an unexpected crowd turnout turned the celebration into a tragic catastrophe, with 11 people killed and over 75 injured in a stampede.
While videos of fans dancing in the streets and screaming slogans were widely shared on social media, one in particular became viral due to its alarming intensity. A video emerged of a fan cutting his wrist and placing the pouring blood as a tilak to a poster of Kohli. The gesture elicited conflicting reactions, with many wondering the mental toll of devotion and if such acts are driven by celebrity culture or the expectations of devoted fans.
Watch the viral video here
??wot
pic.twitter.com/4ZuXJHttua
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) June 6, 2025
The gesture went viral within hours after the horrific stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Meanwhile, lakhs of supporters gathered outside the stadium to greet their team and catch a peek of their great players. With free passes announced for admittance, a large number of individuals attended the event. Fans were attempting to enter the stadium, resulting in a chaotic situation in which a lathi charge was required to manage the crowd.
Later, FIRs were filed against the RCB, event management company DNA, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the Karnataka State Government for inadequate management. Four people have already been arrested, including Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s marketing chief. Furthermore, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suspended five senior police officers, and the Karnataka High Court has issued a suo motu notice, requesting a thorough report from the state.
