Victory With a Heavy Heart: Rajat Patidar Dedicates Trophy to Deceased Fans
Captain Rajat Patidar Honours Fans Who Died in Stampede After Title Triumph: RCB successfully defended their IPL 2026 title by defeating the Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. With this win, captain Rajat Patidar made history by becoming only the third captain, after Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, to win consecutive IPL titles. He also led RCB to their first-ever title in the previous season.
However, the victory carried an emotional message. In 2025, after RCB’s first title win, a stampede during celebrations in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives. The tragedy deeply affected the team and the fans.
Throughout the 2026 season, RCB paid tribute to the victims by observing a minute’s silence before their opening match, wearing black armbands, using the number 11 in practice, and keeping 11 seats empty at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
After winning the final, Patidar dedicated the title to the victims of the stampede, saying the victory was in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
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