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Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya mourned the June 4 Bengaluru stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s IPL win, which claimed 11 lives.
Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya with Rajat Patidar
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma and all-rounder Krunal Pandya on Friday opened up on the unfortunate Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives. The incident took place on June 4 when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were celebrating their maiden IPL title win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Jitesh and Krunal expressed grief over the tragic incident and the lives lost. Jitesh, via RCB’s social media handles, said,
“As athletes, we are trained to move on from wins and losses and focus on the next. But, we will never be able to move on from June 4th, the day some of our own suffered.”
“Our care for each other goes beyond the cricket field, and we will continue to stay united with the fans and families affected. They will forever be in our hearts,” he added.
Krunal echoed the same emotions as said, “RCB fans, your love gave us strength, your belief lifted us in every moment. You are the heartbeat of this team.”
“That a night of celebration turned into sorrow for some of you breaks our hearts. To every family grieving, know that we carry you in our thoughts and in our spirit. We play for you. We stand with you. You’ll be part of this family – today, and always.”
Earlier, the likes of Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar and RCB’s director of cricket operations, Mo Bobat, also grieved the lives lost in the June 4 stampede.
Meanwhile, RCB announced a Rs 25 lakh compensation package for the families of the victims, a memorial in Bengaluru to honour the fans, and a six-point safety manifesto to prevent similar incidents in future.
A judicial commission led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D’Cunha later held the organisers responsible for violating safety protocols. Following the report, the stadium was deemed unfit for large-scale events, leading to Women’s World Cup matches being shifted to Navi Mumbai and the Maharaja T20 Trophy being moved to Mysuru.
The Karnataka government has since placed the onus on RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event managers DNA Entertainment Networks for lapses in planning and execution.
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had …Read More
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had … Read More
September 05, 2025, 16:43 IST
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