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Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, voiced his opinion that the recent victory parade for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, celebrating their IPL 2025 title, should not have happened. He believes these kinds of events should be held privately. The excitement over RCB’s first IPL title in 18 years turned tragic when 11 people lost their lives in a stampede during the open bus parade. After a ceremony at the Vidhan Soudha with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, a huge crowd gathered for the parade, leading to chaos and injuries.

Gambhir expressed that he’s always felt roadshows weren’t necessary, even after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup, and emphasized that the safety of people is more important. He suggested that going forward, such celebrations should be more private to avoid similar situations, stating, What happened is very tragic. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones.

When asked about changes in fan behavior over the years, he stressed the importance of responsibility in all aspects of the game. He said, We need to be responsible, whether as a franchise or in any situation, because every life matters. He was clear that if the organizers weren’t ready for the crowd, the parade shouldn’t have taken place, adding that it was a simple issue.

While acknowledging fans’ excitement, Gambhir noted that nothing can overshadow the loss of life. He pointed out that there were some lapses in how the event was organized, referencing a well-planned celebration after India’s T20 World Cup win in the West Indies, which went off without a hitch. Gambhir emphasized that good planning is crucial and called for a review of the events leading up to the tragedy to ensure accountability.