In 2007, BCCI decided to start a premier league with cricketers from different international teams playing together. Hence Indian Premier League was established. 8 teams play in IPL and the names of the teams are based on different Indian cities. On 18th April 2008, the first match of IPL took place between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Night Riders at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The 2021 IPL got postponed and had to be rescheduled due to the rise in the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Also the bio-bubble was broken at that time. The United Arab Emirates is hosting the second leg of IPL 2021. The most popular league of the world will resume from 19th September onwards. The opener match of the second leg of IPL will be CSK vs MI on 19th September. Before the second leg of IPL 2021 starts, SportzPoint.com takes a look at the potential eleven of each teams.

Also Read : IPL 2021: Number of matches each team needs to win to qualify for playoffs

Potential eleven of each IPL teams :

#1. Delhi Capitals (DC)

In recent times, the most improved team in the Indian Premier League(IPL) is Delhi Capitals. Rishabh Pant was captaining the side in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and will also continue in the UAE leg. DC is yet to win a title of IPL. However, the team is currently leading the points table of IPL 2021. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Delhi Capitals (DC).

Potential eleven of  Delhi Capitals :
Shikhar Dhawan
Prithvi Shaw
Steve Smith
Shreyas Iyer
Rishabh Pant ( C & wk)
Marcus Stoinis
Axar Patel
Amit Mishra
Kagiso Rabada
Avesh Khan
Anrich Norje

Bench : Ajinkya Rahane, Shimron Hetmyer, Sam Billings (wk), Lukman Meriwala, Praven Dubey, Vishu Vinod(wk), Chris Woakes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Tom Curran, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Lalit Yadav, Ripon Patel.

#2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

One of the most successful teams in IPL history is Chennai Super Kings(CSK). The team is leading by none other than our former Indian captain MS Dhoni, aka Thala. CSK has won a total of three titles(2010,2011,2018) in 11 seasons. Chennai has qualified each time for the playoffs except last year(2020). However, the team is currently at the second spot in the points table of IPL 2021. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) .

Potential eleven of Chennai Super Kings :
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Faf du Plessis
Moeen Ali
Suresh Raina
Ambati Rayudu
Ravindra Jadeja
Sam Curran
MS Dhoni (C & wk)
Deepak Chahar
Shardul Thakur
Imran Tahir

Bench : Cheteswar Pujara, Hari Nishanth, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santer, Krishnappa Gowtham, Bhagath Varma, Narayan Jagadeesan, Robin Uthappa, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, KM Asif, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Harishankar Reddy.

#3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) is the most unluckiest team of IPL. The team is currently at third position of the points table of IPL 2021. However, RCB has qualifies two times for the finals of IPL, but they can not get over the line both times. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Potential eleven of Royal Challenges Bangalore :
Devdutt Paddikal
Virat Kohli (C)
Rajat Patidar
Gleen Maxwell
AB de Villiers (wk)
Wahindu Hasaranga
Shahbaz Ahmed
Kyle Jamieson
Harshal Patel
Yuzvendra Chahal
Mohammed Siraj

Bench : Mohammed Azharuddin, KS Bharat, Tim David, Dushmantha Chameera, Suyesh Prabhudessai, Sachin Baby, Pavan Deshpande, Navdeep Saini, Akash Deep, Dan-Christian.

Read Also : Most runs as a Captain in the IPL

#4. Mumbai Indians (MI)

The most successful team of Indian Premier Leagues history is Mumbai Indians(MI). MI has already crowned with five titles(2013,2015,2017,2019,2020) and they are now in the hunt for another one. However, the team is currently at the fourth spot in the points table of IPL 2021. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Mumbai Indians (MI).

Potential eleven of Mumbai Indians :
Rohit Sharma (C)
Quinton de Kock (wk)
Suryakumar Yadav
Ishan Kishan
Kieron Pollard
Hardik Pandya
Krunal Pandya
Rahul Chahar
Marco Jensen
Jasprit Bumrah
Trent Boult

Bench : Saurabh Tiwari, Chris Lynn, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy, James Neesham, Piyush Chawla, Jayant Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Aditya Tare, Mohsin Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni, Nathan Coulter-nile, Adam Milne, Yudhvir Singh.

#5. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

One of the most emerging team of IPL is Rajasthan Royals(RR) for sure. RR is currently at the fifth spot of the points table. Rajasthan Royals has won a title in the inauguration season in 2008. However, the team is currently at the fifth spot in the points table. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Potential eleven of Rajasthan Royals :
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Glenn Phillips
Sanju Samson ( C & wk)
Liam Livingstone
David Miller
Riyan Parag
Rahul Tewatia
Chris Morris
Shreyas Gopal
Jaydev Unadkat
Chetan Sakariya

Bench : Manan Vohra, Mahipal Lomror, Shivam Dube, Evin Lewis, Anuj Rawat, Kartik Tyagi, Andrew Tye, Mayank Markande, Mustafizur Rahman, KC Kariappa, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh, Oshane Thomas.

Read Also : IPL 2021: Most runs at each position in IPL history

#6. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

KL Rahul lead Punjab kings are one of the most unpredictable team of Indian Premier League. PBKS is currently at the sixth spot of the points table. Punjab is yet to win a title till now as they lost against KKR in the finals of IPL 2014. However, the team is currently at the sixth spot in the points table of IPL 2021. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Potential eleven of Punjab Kings :
KL Rahul ( C & wk)
Mayank Agarwal
Chris Gayle
Moises Henriques
Deepak Hooda
Shahrukh Khan
Chris Jordan
Harpreet Brar
Rilley Meredith
Ravi Bishnoi
Mohammad Shami

Bench : Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Jajaj Saxena, Fabian Allen, Jhye Richardson Saurabh Kumar, Nicholas Pooran, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Darshan Narkhande, Murugan Ashwin, Ishan porel, Arshdeep Singh, Utkarsh Singh

Also Read : Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes And Jonny Bairstow Have Pulled Out Of IPL 2021

#7. Kolkata Night Riders (KKR)

Kolkata Night Riders is currently in trouble as they have to win all of the matches they will play, only one they can lose. Knight Riders has won two titles(2012,2014) so far in the league. The team is owned by the king khan of bollywood. However, the team is currently at the seventh spot in the points table. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Potential eleven of Kolkata Knight Riders :
Subhman Gill
Nitish Rana
Rahul Tripathi
Eoin Morgan (C)
Sunil Narine
Andree Russel
Dinesh Karthik (wk)
Shivam Mavi
Lockie Ferguson
Prasidh Krishna
Varun Chakravarthy

Bench : Rinku Singh, Karun Nair, Venkatesh Iyer, Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting, Pawan Negi, Tim Seifert, Sheldon Jackson, Kuldeep Yadav, Tim Southee, Sandeep Warrior, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vaibhav Arora, Harbhajan Singh.

#8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad is currently at do or die position of the game. SRH has to win all of their remaining matches and reached the mark of 16 points to confirmed a spot. Although, they had already won in 2016 by beating RCB. However, the team is currently at the eight and last spot in the points table of IPL 2021. Let's take a look at the potential eleven of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Potential eleven of Sunrisers Hyderabad :
David Warner
Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
Manish Pandey
Kane Williamson(C)
Vijay Shankar
Kedar Jadhav
Mohammed Nabi
Abdul Samad
Rashid Khan
Bhuvneswar Kumar
Sandeep Sharma
T Nataranjan

Bench : Virat Singh, Priyam Garg, Jason Roy, Abhishek Sharma, Jason Holder, Shreevats Goswami (wk), Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Basil Thampi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Jagadesha Suchirh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Also Read : IPL 2021: Most wickets in IPL history

Note : This is just a potential eleven of each team. However, the actual playing XI of each team can be changed so as the squads also.

N.B : The stats are accurate as of 11/09/2021.

N Srinivasan, the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has made a comeback in sports administration as the chairman of Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

80-year-old Srinivasan was appointed the president of the franchise in the CSK board meeting a few weeks ago. Although he will play an advisory role, his presence will strengthen the strategic direction of the team.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma's Bronco Test not take place in Bengaluru, know the reason

Srinivasan will serve as an advisory role

At this age, N Srinivasan will not be able to travel much. That is why his role will mainly be that of an advisor. The team's CEO Kasi Viswanthan clarified that CSK will remain in constant touch with him and will seek his guidance in important decisions. His strategic thinking and administrative skills will help set a new direction for the team.

"See, it's a great boon for CSK and he's been the best administrator for us and I'm very happy that he's come back into CSK. He'll be in an advisory role only because he doesn't travel much, but we'll be in contact with him.

"Both of us are in Chennai only. So he's in day-to-day contact with us," said Viswanathan.

Will also oversee global leagues

Chennai Super Kings is not limited to IPL only. It also has stakes in South Africa's SA20 League and America's Major Cricket League (MLC). N Srinivasan will oversee CSK's properties in both these leagues.

The CEO said Srinivasan will be in charge of all global properties and his guidance will further strengthen the international identity of the franchise. "He will be in charge everything (all CSK properties)" said the CEO.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: BCCI invites bids seeking new lead sponsorship for Team India after Dream11 exit

CSK is already one of the most successful and popular franchises in the IPL. MS Dhoni's captaincy and stable administration have made it a brand.

Now Srinivasan's return will not only give the team strategic strength but will also strengthen the image of the franchise at the global level. His deep understanding and long experience in cricket administration is expected to make CSK's future even brighter.

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and a total of 8 teams are to participate in it. But even before the tournament starts, a big change has been made in its schedule.

After the stampede in Bengaluru, the ICC has now decided to shift the matches to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the ground in Navi Mumbai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Matches cancelled in Bengaluru due to RCB stampede case

After 17 years of long wait, RCB team finally won the IPL 2025 title. After this, RCB players gathered at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the victory. There was a huge crowd to see them and after this many fans lost their lives due to a stampede.

Then the Karnataka government formed a commission, which declared the Bengaluru ground unsafe for big events. Now after this, the ICC has decided not to hold matches on the Bengaluru ground.

Matches will be held at Navi Mumbai ground

The match between India and Sri Lanka was to be held on 30 September at Bengaluru ground, which will now be played at Guwahati ground. The match between England and South Africa was also scheduled to be held on 3 October, which will now be held in Guwahati. The match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 20 October was to be played at Colombo ground, which will now be played at Navi Mumbai ground. 

On the other hand, Navi Mumbai has got two more matches to be played in Bengaluru. These include India vs New Zealand (23 October) and India vs Bangladesh (26 October). There is also a strong possibility that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final will be held either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Jay Shah expressed satisfaction about the new venue

"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Jay Shah said in an ICC release.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”

A single social media activity has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world ahead of IPL 2026 auction. A recent 'hint' from Sanju Samson's manager has intensified the possibility of his transfer to Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals in the next season.

Fans are wondering whether this would come true and change the landscape for both the teams in the future, or is it just another false call.

There's been a mixed bag of positive and upsetting reactions in the past 24 hours, but the real question still stands: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Check out how Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours.

"Time to Move": Samson's recent viral Instagram post

On June 7, Sanju Samson posted a photo on Instagram that begin the rumors. The image featured him alongside his wife, crossing a prominent yellow line on the road. He captioned the post: "Time to MOVE..!!"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sanju V Samson (@imsanjusamson)

This visual cue, combined with the caption and the fact that a Tamil song ('Mun Andhi' from 7 Aum Arivu) was also part of the post, immediately sparked discussion. The comments section was quickly flooded with fans linking the "yellow" color and the "move" message to the Chennai Super Kings.

Comments like "He is definitely moving to CSK" and "Welcome to CSK 💛" can be seen all over the post.

Read Also: "Whatever the future brings," Yashasvi Jasiwal's cryptic post after the Royals' end of IPL 2025

Manager's IPL 2026 hint that sparked Sanju Samson transfer rumours

The intense speculation regarding Sanju Samson moving to CSK for IPL 2026 intensified due to a subtle yet impactful social media action by his manager, Prashob Suvedan. He liked a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), which explicitly stated that Samson might be released from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

This gets more interesting as the post also claimed CSK having already approached Samson regarding the move.

Therefore, the timing and nature of his manager's digital interaction ignited widespread speculation and put a layer of possibility about this matter.

Read Also: Value of the IPL Franchises since 2008 to the present

How the cricket fans reacted:

Fans have flooded with opinions and future calculations after the incident. Here's a glimpse of that:

Can’t blame them 😉 https://t.co/XviV2CVSM8 pic.twitter.com/RHsZDNJUZ7

— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) June 16, 2025

🚨 Sanju Samson wants to join CSK, CSK wants Sanju Samson. Talks are on but it is not at all this simple.

RR doesn't want to trade Samson with any CSK's player, if Samson wants to join CSK then he will have to do it through auction. But then in Auction there is KKR who gonna… pic.twitter.com/Dy6mpX1Ke2

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) June 17, 2025

Sanju Samson's manager Prashobh Sudevan has liked a post which says that Sanju Samson will be released by Rajasthan Royals.

This means that Sanju is definitely joining CSK.💛#csk #WhistlePodu #IPL #SanjuSamson #MSDhoni𓃵 pic.twitter.com/VNtAiOzlrs

— kuldeep singh (@kuldeep0745) June 16, 2025

Every now and then, a year comes along that changes sports history. Imagine waiting years, even decades, for your favourite team to win. For fans across the globe, 2025 has turned that dream into reality.

This year has been special, marked by some of the longest trophy droughts in sports finally coming to an end. Teams like South Africa in cricket and Bologna in football have broken long-standing curses, proving that anything is possible. 

Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history? Join us as we explore why 2025 is a year sports fans won't soon forget, and is also termed as "Year of the underdogs."

1. South Africa won an ICC Trophy after 27 years/ 9,862 days

For nearly three decades, the "chokers" tag clung to the Proteas like an unwanted shadow. Time and again, they reached close to the glory, only to falter at crucial moments. But 2025 changed everything, as they lifted ICC WTC Trophy defeating a strong Australian side in the Final.

South Africa showcased a cricketing masterclass with extraordinary team efforts in a high-stakes final match. From Aiden Markram's century to Temba Bavuma's batting class, they gave it all to earn the standing ovation from the crowd as they walked with pride after the win.

This victory, as Mark Boucher previously said, indeed is the turnaround they needed to inspire future generations and earn global respect as champions that they truly deserve.

They made the world chant "It's time for Africa" with their performance.

Read Also: Most ICC Trophies by any men's team

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

2. RCB won their first ever IPL trophy after 18 years/ 6,570 days

For 18 painfully long years, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their passionate fans endured a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak in IPL. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB delivered exceptional, balanced performance this season, finally breaking free of their curse.

The image of Virat Kohli lifting the IPL trophy, the last major piece missing from his glittering cabinet, was one of the most iconic sporting moments of this year. It not only signified the team's victory, but also the ultimate reward for loyalty and career-long excellence.

The overall team contribution and management are the key factors that led them to secure their place as champions, shutting all the haters down.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB batters create this unique history before the playoffs

AAAAARRRRR CEEEEEEE BEEEEEE ❤🏆#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/lp3AwgCVQl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

3. Go Ahead Eagles won the KNVB Cup after 93 years/ 33,968 days

Go Ahead Eagles soared to their first major trophy in 93 years, winning the KNVB Cup in 2025. For generations of fans in Deventer, this was a moment they might have only dreamed of. The emotions outpouring after the victory were sensational.

Their journey in the tournament was an underdog saga, defeating AZ Alkmaar, where they equalised the final match in the 99th minute to take it to penalties, and ultimately winning it from there!

4. Bologna won the Italian Cup after 51 years/ 18,619 days

Bologna's victory in the Italian Cup after 51 years was a testament to patience and a perfectly executed season. Their triumph in 2025, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final, was a moment they manifested for years.

Key contributions from players like Don Ndoye, who scored the decisive goal despite returning from injury, and the tactical decisions of the coach, Vincenzo Italiano, brought joy to a city that waited for so long.

5.  Crystal Palace won the first ever major trophy (FA Cup) after 119 years/ 43,714 days

Perhaps the most astonishing drought-breaker of 2025 belonged to Crystal Palace. After 119 years, the Eagles finally lifted their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup. 

The single decisive goal from Eberechi Eze and crucial saves from goalkeeper Dean Henderson shaped their 1-0 victory over Manchester City FC. This victory proved that even after more than a century, a club's biggest dream can still become reality!

Read Also: Football teams with most international trophies

6. Newcastle United won the League Cup after a long wait of 55 years/ 20,367 days

For the passionate supporters of Newcastle United, 2025 brought an end to a 55-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they won the English Football League Cup.

The sight of the Magpies defeating the 10-time champions Liverpool (1-2) was a powerful moment that reinforced belief in their new era. Goals from local hero Dan Burn and Alexander Isak brought the victory home for them.

7. Harry Kane won his first-ever major trophy (Bundesliga) after 32 years/ 11,676 days

For years, England's most prolific striker, Harry Kane, was burdened by an unfortunate tag: "trophy virgin." Despite his goal-scoring records and individual brilliance, a major team trophy has always slipped away from him.

But 2025 finally saw the narrative shattered as Kane immediately made his mark after joining Bayern Munich, leading them to their 33rd Bundesliga title. He was also the top scorer of the 2024-25 season, having scored 26 goals and 8 assists.

This victory felt like a personal one, putting a line to complete the picture in his football career.

Read Also: 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

This one’s coming home with me! 🏆

Buzzing to be Bundesliga top goalscorer for the second year in a row and this one’s even more special as it goes alongside the Bundesliga title! Couldn’t have achieved this without the support of my teammates! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WnvIvCf28S

— Harry Kane (@HKane) May 17, 2025

8. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League after 17 years/ 6,296 days

2025 finally broke Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year trophy drought, as they won the UEFA Europa League. This was a monumental win, bringing the title back to North London.

The tense final against Manchester United saw a crucial goal from Brennan Johnson secure the 1-0 victory. However, the most iconic image was Son Heung-min, the club's long-serving captain, finally lifting a major trophy.

After a decade of dedication and numerous near misses, Son's emotional moment, draped in the Korean flag, was the highlight of his commitment and love for football.

A moment Tottenham fans will never forget 🏆#UELfinal | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/ROFK5pRtDD

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2025

The celebration of Royal Challengers Bangaluru's (RCB) first title win in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) has now become a cause of crisis. 11 people died and about 50 people were injured in a Bengaluru stampede during the celebration held outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Also Read: Official statement from RCB after the tragic loss of 11 people during RCB's celebration

In connection with this tragic incident, Bangaluru Police has arrested four people including a senior RCB official, while some top officials of Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) are still absconding.

Police arrested RCB employee

Among those arrested by the police, the prominent name is that of Nikhil Sosale, who is the marketing head of RCB. Nikhil is considered close to Virat Kohli and was seen actively in every match of the team.

He led the team's branding and marketing strategy and has been associated with the franchise for many years. This year, a picture of a woman sitting next to Anushka Sharma in the stadium during every RCB match went viral on social media. Later it was revealed that this woman was none other than Nikhil Sosale's wife Malvika Nayak.

Arrest comes after Senior IPS officer took charge

The police, on Thursday, had booked RCB, event management company DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration over the Bengaluru stampede with CM Siddaramaiah asking the police to arrest the representatives. The KSCA officials have been absconding since Thursday night, the police said.

The arrest comes moments after Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as the new Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police, replacing B Dayananda, who was among senior officers suspended over the stampede.

After taking charge, Singh had vowed to uphold the work of his predecessors and act swiftly on the stampede. “I will immediately meet with my officers and take necessary steps regarding the incident,” he said.

Bengaluru Stampede case: What happened actually?

What was meant to be a day of celebration for cricket fans in Karnataka turned chaotic on Wednesday, as a hastily cancelled victory parade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team gave way to confusion, swelling crowds, and a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The morning began with an announcement from team management: a victory parade would be held on an open bus, traveling the short distance from the iconic Vidhana Soudha to the stadium. Free passes for a post-parade celebration at the stadium were to be made available online. But by 11:56 am, the Bengaluru Traffic Police said that the parade was off.

However, by the time the RCB team arrived at HAL airport around 1:30 pm and travelled to their hotel before heading to Vidhana Soudha, thousands had already assembled along the intended parade route. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was slated to felicitate the players at a brief public ceremony.

Also Read: From emerging star to captain fantastic: Shreyas Iyer's IPL journey

Some spectators perched on treetops and building ledges, including the roof of the nearby Karnataka High Court. Meanwhile, large crowds also began to cluster outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Namma Metro announced that it would bypass Cubbon Park and Dr B.R. Ambedkar metro stations due to overcrowding.

By 3 pm, police estimated that over 50,000 people were gathered within a one-kilometre radius of the stadium. Tragedy struck around 4 pm, when Gate 3 of the stadium partially opened. The mix of ticket-holders and those without passes surged toward the entrance, triggering the stampede.