The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the IPL 2025 closing ceremony, scheduled for June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, will pay a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces. This gesture comes in light of the successful Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian military reportedly destroyed several terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A Special Tribute to Military Heroes
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the news to the Hindustan Times, stating, “Yes, the IPL 2025 closing ceremony will honour the Indian Armed Forces.” The tribute aims to acknowledge the bravery and dedication shown by the military during one of the country’s most high-profile anti-terror operations in recent years.
Invitations have already been sent to top military officials, including:
- Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
- Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi
- Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
- Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh
Sources also suggest that military bands will perform, and renowned singers will headline a musical evening to mark the grand finale of IPL 2025.
IPL Suspended Briefly Amid Rising Tensions
The IPL 2025 season had faced a temporary one-week suspension following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed. The tournament resumed after a ceasefire was declared, with the BCCI choosing to honour the Armed Forces by playing the national anthem before matches and displaying ‘Thank You Armed Forces’ messages on stadium screens.
This is not the first time the BCCI has publicly supported the military. In 2019, following the Pulwama attack, the board contributed ₹20 crore to armed forces welfare and included military bands in the opening ceremony.
IPL 2025 Playoff Update
As the league heads into its final stages, the playoff fixtures have been confirmed:
- Qualifier 1: May 29 in Mullanpur
- Eliminator: May 30 in Mullanpur
- Qualifier 2: Scheduled for Ahmedabad
Punjab Kings have secured a spot in Qualifier 1 after defeating Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. If Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their final league match against Lucknow Super Kings, they will face Punjab in Qualifier 1. A loss for RCB will allow Gujarat Titans to take their place instead.
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