'June 4th changed everything': RCB break social media silence with a heartfelt message for '12th Man Army'

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have broken its social media silence following the tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives. In its return to digital platforms, RCB addressed fans as “12th Man Army” and unveiled a new social initiative called “RCB Cares."

While the IPL outfit did not release the details related to its initiative, it did define RCB Cares as a platform for “meaningful action shaped by our community and fans." The initiative aims to honour the memory of those who lost their lives during the tragic stampede that transpired on June 4, 2025.

Here’s what RCB posted:

“Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!

The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief. This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you enjoyed the most.. But June 4th changed everything. That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space. In that silence, we’ve been grieving. Listening. Learning. And slowly, we’ve begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in. That’s how Red Cares came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans. We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka.

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Red Cares. And we always will.”

Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you!

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief.

This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you… pic.twitter.com/g0lOXAuYbd

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2025

RCB’s celebration took a dark turn

A day after ending their long wait by finally conquering the IPL Trophy, RCB’s celebrations were marred by a tragic turn of events that saw 11 people lose their lives, while many others sustained injuries. Given the huge fan following of the IPL franchise, a massive turnout of enthusiasts showed up at the felicitation ceremony planned for the RCB team outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The administration could not manage the the influx of supporters  and a stampede ensued.

In the aftermath of the event, RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) jointly declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives.