‘They are family members’: Rajat Patidar dedicates RCB’s IPL 2026 title to stampede victims

Royal Challengers Bengaluru capped off a dominant season by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final to secure their second consecutive title. Amid the celebrations, captain Rajat Patidar took a moment to remember the fans who lost their lives in the tragic stampede that followed RCB's maiden IPL triumph last year.

The hastily organised victory celebrations in June 2025 had resulted in a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming the lives of 11 supporters.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Patidar said in the post-match press conference, "Obviously, you feel bad. You lost your fans after winning the game. Not just the fans, they are family members. I always wanted to dedicate this trophy to them. That's it. I don't have words to express that feeling."

As a tribute to the departed souls, RCB players wore jersey No. 11 throughout the season, while the franchise, in association with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), permanently reserved 11 seats at the stadium in memory of the victims. Patidar's heartfelt dedication added an emotional touch to RCB's historic title defence, ensuring that the memories of the fans remain an integral part of the franchise's journey.




Coming to the final, Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their dominance and clinched back-to-back IPL titles after defeating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

GT posted 155/8 in their 20 overs, but RCB's disciplined bowling attack kept the dangerous batting lineup in check. Despite a few late boundaries, Gujarat never managed to build substantial partnerships and finished with a below-par total.

In reply, RCB chased down the target comfortably, reaching 161/5 in just 18 overs. Virat Kohli led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, anchoring the innings and ensuring there were no late hiccups. His knock proved decisive as RCB crossed the finish line with two overs to spare and sealed their second consecutive IPL crown.

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