Bengaluru has witnessed significant public order incidents in the past, including the cancellation of the fifth day of the 1978 Test match between India and the West Indies at the KSCA stadium due to citywide mob violence over the arrest of then-prime minister Indira Gandhi. However, the stampede on June 4 was distinct in that it was not a public order situation; the unfortunate event occurred outside the stadium gates.

A notable difference is the emergence of the IPL franchise cricket in the last 18 years, which has grown immensely. Franchise cricket has become the showpiece of a country that breathes the game. For instance, the BCCI’s income for 2023-24 was approximately Rs 9,743 crores, with the IPL contributing Rs 5,761 crores (59 per cent). RCB, the most popular franchise, boasts an Instagram following of 21 million and an estimated value of $110 million.

Despite its popularity, RCB has not secured an IPL title in the past 17 years, leading to heightened excitement among fans. Their narrow victory in the finals on June 3, 2025, was a moment of........

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