Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has found himself at the center of a social media storm after his recent departure from India, which coincided with the aftermath of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident, which occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations, claimed the lives of 11 people and injured over 50 others, leading to widespread anger and criticism from fans and the general public alike.
The Incident and Kohli’s Departure
On Wednesday, visuals from the victory celebrations emerged, showing jubilant fans gathering in large numbers at the stadium. Tragically, overcrowding and mismanagement led to a stampede that killed 11 and left dozens injured.
Barely a day later, videos and photos of Virat Kohli, accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma, surfaced at Mumbai Airport as they reportedly left for London. This triggered immediate outrage online, with many users questioning Kohli’s timing and empathy.
Netizens React with Outrage
Within hours, #ArrestKohli started trending on X (formerly Twitter). Social media users accused Kohli of showing indifference towards the tragedy, with some alleging that the victory celebrations themselves were hurried to fit his travel schedule. Many pointed out that apart from a single social media post, Kohli had done little to address or respond to the devastating incident.
In his Instagram post, Kohli had written, “Deeply saddened to hear about the incident. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims.” However, fans and critics alike felt that given his stature, Kohli should have engaged more actively, perhaps by visiting the victims’ families or contributing to relief efforts.
Authorities Take Action
Meanwhile, authorities have swung into action. Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, ordered the arrest of key representatives from the RCB team, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd. (the event management company), and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after an FIR was filed against them under multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
In response, Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head of RCB, was arrested at Bengaluru Airport while trying to fly to Mumbai. Additionally, three staff members from DNA Entertainment were detained by police.
The state government also took action against top officials, suspending Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and several senior officials for failing to adequately manage the event, despite being informed in advance.
RCB’s Response
On Thursday, RCB released a statement expressing that players, staff, and management were “deeply anguished” by the tragedy. The team announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to each of the victims’ families and the creation of an ‘RCB Cares’ fund to support the 33 injured fans.
Kohli in the Eye of the Storm
Despite the steps taken by RCB and the authorities, much of the online anger continues to be directed at Kohli. Fans have called out the timing of his departure and his perceived lack of personal involvement following the tragedy.
While some users defended Kohli, arguing that he had no direct role in the incident, others insisted that as the team’s former captain and its most high-profile star, he had a moral obligation to stay, support the victims, and help manage the fallout.
Conclusion
As the investigation unfolds and those responsible are brought to justice, the controversy around Kohli’s departure highlights the growing expectations from public figures to be more accountable in times of crisis. Whether the outrage will lead to any concrete actions against Kohli remains to be seen, but the incident has certainly sparked a larger conversation about responsibility, empathy, and leadership during tragic events.