The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will pay a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 closing ceremony. The ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, at Ahmedabad’s historic Narendra Modi Stadium, is intended to honour the valour and service of India’s military forces during the recent Operation Sindoor.
IPL 2025 was suspended for one week due to heightened border tensions. However, the competition resumed after a ceasefire, and the BCCI has expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces for their involvement in national security. Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, revealed the extraordinary gift ahead of the summit clash.
“The Board salutes our armed services for their bravery, courage, and selfless devotion during Operation Sindoor, which continues to protect and inspire the nation. As an homage, we have decided to dedicate the closing ceremony to the armed forces,” stated BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia during an interview.
Since the IPL 2025 commenced on May 17, the BCCI has paid tributes at several venues.
Players have been observed singing the national anthem before matches, with slogans such as “Thank you, Armed Forces” flashed on stadium displays.
“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country,” Saikia told reporters.
It is not the first time the BCCI has acknowledged the armed troops during the IPL. In 2019, the opening ceremony in Chennai featured a military band, and the board donated INR 20 crore for the welfare of the armed forces following the Pulwama assault, which killed 44 CRPF soldiers.
The final was initially scheduled to take place in Kolkata on May 25, but was changed to Ahmedabad owing to weather concerns. The playoffs are set to begin on May 29, with prominent clubs including the Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Mumbai Indians in contention.
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