“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history…turned into something tragic,” Kohli was quoted as saying by RCB on its ‘X’ handle.
India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting superstar Virat Kohli has opened up about the June 4 stampede during his franchise’s IPL victory celebrations here, saying “nothing in life really prepares you for the heartbreak” of 11 deaths on what should have been the happiest day for his side.
The tragic incident occurred when an estimated 2.5 lakh fans thronged at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title.
“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history…turned into something tragic,” Kohli was quoted as saying by RCB on its ‘X’ handle.
“I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost…and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility,” he added in his first elaborate comment on the mishap that led to widespread criticism of the franchise as well.
An official inquiry into the incident attributed the chaos to the lack of proper clearances and the overwhelming crowd, which surged in response to social media invitations sent out by the franchise.
The police admitted to being grossly outnumbered in managing the turnout and RCB was held responsible in the probe for encouraging the fans to come out in numbers.
How Public Reacts
One of the netizens reacting to the shared post by RCB expressed his disappointment for Cricketer Kohli for his silence. He wrote-
“I do follow and idolize Virat Kohli but remaining silent for almost three months on such a devastating event that unfolded in Bengaluru is not what idols do. It was not a bold move champ.”
Although, he declared it just his personal thoughts. Another user responding to it added, “June 3 gave me the joy of a lifetime. June 4 reminded me how fragile life is. As a RCB fan, my love for the team is endless, and my grief for the fans we lost is eternal. We celebrated as family, we mourned as family.”
Users on social media are expressing their thoughts on the matter. Some are even saying that he, despite heading to London next to the day the stampede happened, should have met the families of victims.
