RCB Ban in IPL 2026? Stampede at Bengaluru Victory Parade Sparks Outrage and Investigation
RCB Ban in IPL 2026? Stampede at Bengaluru Victory Parade Sparks Outrage and Investigation
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 title celebration ended in tragedy after a massive stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured. The chaotic scenes, which unfolded during the team’s victory parade, were reportedly triggered by severe overcrowding, lack of exits, and poor coordination between the franchise, event managers, and authorities.
FIR Filed, Arrests Made, Officials Resign
Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR against RCB, DNA Entertainment (the event firm), and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Nikhil Sosale, head of marketing at RCB and an employee of Diageo, was arrested on Friday. Amid growing political and public pressure, KSCA officials A Shankar and ES Jairam resigned on Saturday. Meanwhile, families of the deceased have approached the court demanding strict punishment and compensation.
BCCI Distances Itself
The BCCI, in a statement by secretary Devajit Saikia, termed the incident “unfortunate” but clarified it was a franchise-led event. “We can’t be silent spectators. Though it wasn’t our event, we are responsible for cricket in India,” Saikia said, indicating that future preventive measures would be considered.
RCB Ban Speculation Gains Traction
With public anger mounting and legal action underway, social media has been flooded with calls to ban RCB from IPL 2026. The IPL has seen franchise bans before, most notably Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in 2015 over corruption charges. However, this incident involves fatalities, placing even more scrutiny on RCB.
Any decision on disciplinary action will hinge on the Karnataka government’s investigation. If severe negligence is found, BCCI may be compelled to take action despite the financial and legal complexities of banning a team.
No Official Action Yet
As of now, the BCCI has not announced any punitive measures. The cricket board is reportedly monitoring the situation closely, and its next steps will likely depend on the outcome of the ongoing probe.
