Cricket (IPL) United RCB Fans, Misgovernance Shamed the Nation.

 

                                            

                                        

Cricket in India is more than a sport—it is a cultural phenomenon, a unifying force, and a mirror of the nation’s collective consciousness. As scholar Ashis Nandy famously remarked, “Cricket is an Indian game accidentally discovered by the English.” Its deep ties to Indian nationalism, catalysed by cinema, political, and corporate interests, have made it a powerful tool for unity and identity.  However, what should have been a jubilant and unifying celebration of RCB’s maiden IPL victory in Bengaluru, has instead turned into a national tragedy. This tragic incident reminds us of a deeper, more troubling pattern: the erosion of institutional integrity.

 The loss of 11 innocent lives, crushed in a stampede born out of administrative apathy, is not merely an accident but an indictment of systemic failure. This must serve as a stark reminder of the need for responsibility, foresight, and robust planning to learn from such failures. This tragedy also underscores the need for stakeholders—politicians, administration, government, BCCI, IPL and other organizers, corporations, and even cine stars and celebrities —to learn from lapses and ensure cricket and such other celebrations that unite citizens remains a source of joy, not a sorrow and a national tragedy.

 Every day since the tragedy on 4 June, new layers of disappointment are surfacing — pointing to a clear absence of planning, coordination, and accountability. But instead of honest introspection and corrective action, we are witnessing a disgraceful passing of the buck and politicking. While the ruling political establishment washes its hands of any responsibility, it has found scapegoat in the Police Commissioner, suspending him and few other Police officers even before a full and transparent inquiry.

The Rs. 25 lakh compensation announced by the Government for the victims’ families is an absolute necessity and must be welcomed, but this should not become a shield to avoid real accountability. The opposition must stop political blame game in circumstances such as this, where precious human lives have been lost. This moment warrants and demands bipartisan resolve to identify failure points and fix the issues — not just for justice today, but to prevent such disasters in the future. 

My tryst with the history of the game of Cricket and its innate connect with the people of India began when curating three Cricket Connects exhibitions - India South Africa (2014), India Australia (2016) and India England (2017). The tragic incidence of the loss of lives in Bengaluru has tempted me to pen this article on Cricket and its popularity in India and how we must ensure that the game of cricket does not come in the cross fire of the tragic incident that happened in Bengaluru and how the cash rich cricket body and its shenanigans invest the money they earn from the game in ensuring an absolute safety of the people and ensure that they do all that it takes to see that such incident happens never again.    

Cricket and Indian cinema stand as two dominant mass mediums in India, transcending class, religion, and regional boundaries to unite a diverse nation of 1.4 billion. From children in rural hamlets to urban professionals, every Indian is touched by cricket, rallying with fervour to support their team, especially during high-stakes events like the World Cup or India-Pakistan clashes. Bollywood has capitalized on this link, with films like Lagaan—Ashutosh Gowariker’s Academy Award-nominated film—portraying cricket as a unifying force in pre-independent India. It is therefore no wonder that Amir Khan the lead in Lagan film, chose IPL finals between RCB and PBKS to promote his upcoming film “Sitaare Zameen Par”, joining the commentary team. The ruling political class in Bengaluru too wished to have their share of public and media space by joining the victory parade –The CM and Deputy CM were seen with RCB players celebrating their IPL victory at the Vidhana Soudha. This is not the first time that political leaders have been a part of such celebrations, Cricket victory celebrations has always attracted this class alongside other celebrities from cinema and business all of who depend on each other.

The 1983 Prudential World Cup victory, led by the legendary Kapil Dev, marked a turning point, catapulting cricket as India’s most beloved sport. The advent of colour television via Doordarshan during the 1982 Asian Games, followed by economic liberalization in 1991, transformed the game’s reach. Deregulation of the television industry in 1993 brought private channels like Star Sports and ESPN, delivering cricket to living rooms nationwide. Nation ide spread of TV transmitting station and the 50-over format of the game, with frequent breaks for advertisements, became a goldmine for broadcasters and corporations. Multinational companies (MNCs) flooded India with their consumer products, leveraging cricket stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood icons like Amitabh Bachchan and others to endorse their products—Pepsi and Coca-Cola -  larger than life billboards became a common sight, deepening the game’s cultural footprint. The rise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 amplified this, turning cricket into an intoxicating blend of sport, entertainment, and commerce, an “opium” for a cricket-crazy nation.

The relationship between cricket and politics in India is symbiotic and longstanding. Even before independence, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was formed by maharajas of princely states, with power brokers backing local boards. The popularity of the Quadrangular and Pentangular Cricket matches in Mumbai were as popular in the 1930s and early 40s as the IPL now. Even during the freedom struggle the popularity of the tournament remained untouched with scores of spectators thronging the matches. The games popularity and its possible adverse effects on the freedom struggle motivated Mahatma Gandhi to publicly appeal for a boycott of the Bombay Pentangular cricket tournament. He viewed the tournament, which pitted teams representing different religious communities, as communally divisive and harmful to the broader national movement. 

The popularity of the game remained so even after Independence. Post-independence, leaders harnessed cricket’s appeal to bolster their image. Jawaharlal Nehru played the game, and during the 1975 Emergency, Indira Gandhi used images of her father in cricket whites on political pamphlets to connect with the masses. Politicians across the spectrum have since supported cricket, hosting players and funding events, while cricket boards - mostly made of political class - including the influential BCCI, navigate red tape and secure resources from the government for the game through political ties.

This mutual benefit has persisted, with cricket serving as a platform for political visibility. The 1983 win, combined with economic reforms, fuelled a growing middle class—standard-bearers of nationalism—who embraced cricket as a symbol of pride. Media hype, especially during India-Pakistan matches, and world cup finals stokes hyper-nationalism, framing games as virtual battles. However, this fervour, while unifying, can spiral out of control, as seen in Bengaluru, where poor planning and underestimation of crowd size turned celebration into a catastrophe and a national tragedy.

 The Bengaluru Tragedy: A Wake-Up Call

RCB’s historic IPL victory over Punjab Kings by six runs in Ahmedabad sparked jubilation in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Wanting to capitalise on this fan frenzy, the RCB planned to have a victory celebration parade. There were two celebrations planned one at the Vidhana Soudha and other at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Celebration and felicitation for the RCB players, arranged at the Vidhana Soudha, was attended by the CM and the Dy CM, who greeted and felicitated the players and the team. From here the players were to assemble at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Estimates suggest 2-3 lakh people converged, trying to enter the stadium, far exceeding expectations and a capacity of 35000 at the stadium. Initial plans for a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium were announced on social media post at 3:14 PM, on RCB's official account on X, on 4 June. It confirmed a "Victory Parade" scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM from the Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, followed by a felicitation event inside the stadium. Confusion ensued when the parade was cancelled, but fans, uninformed and desperate to see the team, surged toward the stadium, leading to a deadly stampede. Eleven lives were lost—youth, a woman, and a boy among them—while over 40 were injured.

News reports claiming eyewitness accounts described chaos, with people climbing trees and buses, and others falling in the crush. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah admitted the crowd surge was unanticipated. The Karnataka High Court registered a Suo Moto case, and Bengaluru Police filed an FIR against RCB, event organizers DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for criminal negligence. As expected criticism mounted from the opposition, with the BJP decrying the state government’s “hasty” planning and failure to heed traffic police warnings about crowd control at Vidhana Soudha.

Exploitation and Accountability

The Bengaluru tragedy exposes how cricket’s popularity is exploited by multiple stakeholders. Political parties leverage the game’s mass appeal for clout, with most political leaders joining the bandwagon in rushing to felicitate victorious teams. The BCCI and IPL organizers reap billions from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcasts, with MNCs and Bollywood stars amplifying the frenzy through endorsements with support from political class. Yet, this synergy often overlooks fan safety. The Mumbai celebration of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win drew 5 lakh people; a precedent Bengaluru’s planners could have studied. In an era where AI and data analytics—tools at home in India’s IT hub—can predict crowd sizes based on social media buzz, ticket demand, and historical data, the failure to anticipate 3 lakh fans was a glaring lapse.

The Way Forward: Balancing Passion and Safety

Cricket unites India rallying a diverse 1.4 billion-strong audience specially during World Cups and India Pakistan matches. It fosters national pride, bridges divide, and fuels dreams. Yet, the Bengaluru tragedy demands introspection. To avoid such incidents while promoting the game, stakeholders must ensure;

1. Robust Planning with Technology: Use AI, data analytics, and real-time monitoring to predict and manage crowd sizes. Bengaluru, an IT hub, should lead in deploying tech for event safety—drones, CCTV, and crowd-flow models can prevent bottlenecks, funds should not be a problem with cash rick BCCI.
2. Clear Communication: Avoid last-minute changes like parade cancellations without widespread, timely alerts via social media, radio, and SMS to prevent confusion and surges.
3. Enhanced Infrastructure: Stadiums and public spaces need wider entry/exit points, barricades, and trained security. The Bangalore Metro’s suspension of stations like Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha on June 4 highlights the need for coordinated transport plans.
4. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Karnataka’s move to formulate SOPs for mega events is a start. The BCCI, state governments, and event organizers must enforce strict guidelines, learning from global examples.
5. Shared Responsibility: Politicians, the BCCI, IPL teams, and corporate sponsors must fund and prioritize safety, not just profits or popularity. Bollywood stars can use their influence to promote crowd discipline.
6. Fan Education: Encourage fans to follow guidelines, respect limits, and prioritize safety, ensuring celebrations remain joyous.

Cricket embodies India’s spirit—diverse, passionate, and united. The 2025 tragedy must not dim this light but galvanize action. As Virat Kohli, “absolutely gutted” by the loss, and fans mourn, let us honour the fallen by ensuring cricket connects, uplifts, and protects. Only then can it remain the heartbeat of a cricket-crazy nation.