Who is Nikhil Sosale? RCB Executive Arrested After Bengaluru Stampede Kills 11

A tragic turn of events has rocked the cricket world. Nikhil Sosale, the Head of Marketing and Revenue at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been arrested by Bengaluru Police after a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in the deaths of 11 fans.

Three others — Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar, and Sumanth from DNA Event Management — were also detained. The arrests took place at Bengaluru International Airport as the group allegedly tried to fly to Mumbai.

Who is Nikhil Sosale?

Nikhil Sosale is a seasoned sports marketing executive with over 15 years of experience in the beverage and sports industry. He joined RCB in September 2023, under the Diageo India brand, and has held past roles including Head of Business Partnerships.

• Education: Double major degree from James Cook University, Queensland, Australia

• Residence: Bengaluru

• Professional Role: Oversees RCB’s marketing, fan engagement, and revenue streams

What Went Wrong?

According to police, a social media post by Sosale promoted an RCB victory parade and free ticket distribution outside the stadium. The post was unauthorized — the city had not granted permission for such an event.

The misleading announcement led to a turnout of over 3 lakh people, but only 3 of the stadium’s 21 gates were opened.

This lack of crowd control, poor planning, and contradictory timings (RCB later said the event would begin at 3 p.m.) created a stampede situation.

Police say Sosale and DNA Event Management were responsible for organizing the event without proper approval or preparation. The chaos turned RCB’s celebration into a deadly disaster.

Ties to Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma

Sosale is personally connected to cricket star Virat Kohli, who follows him on Instagram. His wife, Malvika Nayak, is believed to be close friends with actress Anushka Sharma. Both women have been seen together in RCB’s VIP boxes, often trending on social media during IPL matches.

Public Outrage & Investigation

The incident has led to widespread anger and mourning across India. Families of the victims are demanding justice, and the government has ordered a full inquiry.

Bengaluru Police confirmed that the event lacked basic safety measures and that RCB management and event partners may face further charges.