RCB shares Virat Kohli's emotional note on Chinnaswamy stampede: 'Nothing in life really prepares you...'

Virat Kohli opened up about the unfortunate stampede, which took place during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations in June. The tragic incident, which took place outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, claimed 11 lives. Reflecting his thoughts on the same, an emotional Kohli noted it as "heartbreak" at a time that "should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise's history".

The stampede occurred when an estimated 2.5 lakh fans thronged the at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB's home ground, to celebrate the franchise maiden IPL title, which came after a long wait of 18 years.

"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.