BCCI To Honour Indian Armed Forces During IPL 2025 Closing Ceremony In Ahmedabad

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed that the closing ceremony of IPL 2025 will be dedicated to paying homage to the Indian armed forces. Scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the ceremony will precede the tournament final on June 3.

In a symbolic tribute, top military leaders-including the Chief of Defence Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force-have been formally invited to attend the event. The ceremony is expected to feature performances by armed forces bands, followed by a musical segment to mark the occasion.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, speaking to Sportstar, said, "The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation. As a tribute, we have decided to dedicate the closing ceremony to the armed forces." He further emphasized, "While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country."

Earlier on May 7, the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor in response to the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The operation targeted militant bases across the border. After a brief spike in tensions, both India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire.

The IPL was briefly put on hold for a week due to the security situation, leading the BCCI to alter the tournament schedule and resume again from May 17. Originally slated to be held in Kolkata on May 26, the final was pushed to June 3 and shifted to Ahmedabad due to rain forecasts.

Since resuming, the BCCI has incorporated tributes to the armed forces into the tournament's presentation. Players have been seen singing the national anthem before matches at several venues, and messages like "Thank you, armed forces" have regularly appeared on stadium screens during games.