Follow UsIndian cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar doesn’t want any cheerleaders for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches, of which there are 17 league games and four playoffs, including the final, remaining. The league had to be suspended after tensions went over the roof between India and Pakistan.
“I would sincerely hope, because of what has happened, and some families have lost their near and dear ones, I would like all the paraphernalia that goes on with it not to be there,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying to Sports Today.
After the launch of Operation Sindoor, which was an initiative of the Indian security forces to hunt down terrorists that had killed 26 innocent people in Pahalgam, tensions flared between the two countries and blackouts were seen in India as the country made sure that no civilian lives were at risk.
This even led to the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala being called-off mid-way and the entire stadium being evacuated.
To make sure that the sentiments of people who were directly involved in the tensions, such as defence personnel or their families are not hurt, Gavaskar added, “Just the game to be played. Let the crowds come in (but) let’s not have music, let’s not have the DJs screaming in the middle of an over, none of that. Let’s just have sport, no dancing girls, nothing. Just cricket. That would be a really nice way to respect the sentiment of the families who have lost their near and dear ones.”
The IPL 2025 will restart with the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 17 (Saturday).