Winning and celebrations are important, but not more than anyone's life: Gautam Gambhir

Published - 06 Jun 2025, 09:56 IST | Updated - 06 Jun 2025, 10:19 IST

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has shared a strong message, requesting authorities to reconsider the practice of conducting public roadshows post the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL 2025 victory celebrations

On June 4, what was meant to be a moment of celebration for RCB’s historic maiden IPL title ended in a horrific incident. With more than three lakh fans crowding the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for a felicitation event that was originally denied police permission. The huge crowd stunned the limited security personnel, leading to a stampede.

Victims included young fans, some of them teenagers, who had come to witness their favourite stars up close. Ahead of the Indian team's departure to the UK for the upcoming England Test, Gambhir opened up about the incident and questioned whether celebrations are important than lives.

"It is very tragic what happened yesterday, and my heart goes out to the families of people who lost their loved ones. I hope in the future nothing like this will happen because I think we all are responsible citizens and we should take care of all this," he said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

RCB, DNA employees arrested in Bengaluru stampede case

While Gambhir mentioned the significance of celebrations after a hard-fought victory, he questioned the need for excessive public displays like roadshows. He also shared that he never found value in such public celebrations during his playing days.

"I think lives of people are far more important, and I will continue to say. We can be a little bit careful of not holding these kinds of roadshows and can probably have them closed doors or something like this in a stadium. When I used to play, I didn't believe much in roadshows. I don't believe in them today, and I don't believe in them in the future. Winning is important, celebrations are important, but more important than that is the life of any person. So if we are not prepared, or if we cannot handle the crowd in that way, then might as well these roadshows should not take place," he added.

Notably, following the massive criticism and debates over mismanagement, RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, Nikhil Sosale, and two top officials from DNA Entertainment Network, which helped organise the event, were arrested. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also asked for a judicial investigation and suspended several senior police officers.