A disturbing video has surfaced online showing an overly zealous Virat Kohli fan applying a blood tilak on the cricketer’s poster to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) long-awaited IPL 2025 title win. The video, which has gone viral, has left netizens both stunned and concerned, with many questioning the extremes of fan devotion in modern sports culture.
The footage depicts a visibly distressed fan slicing his wrist and using the blood to ceremonially mark Kohli’s forehead on a poster he’s clutching. Social media users questioned whether such extreme acts of devotion are prompted by Kohli’s influence or the broader fan culture at RCB.
This comes in the wake of heightened emotions across Bengaluru, following both the team's iconic victory and the tragic stampede that marred the celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The chilling video highlights a darker side of fanaticism, where admiration for cricketers crosses into self-harm and ceremonial extremes.
Here's how the netizens reacted to the video:
While sports can ignite passion and unite millions, extreme acts like these underline the importance of balancing admiration with sanity.
