The IPL was suspended last week owing to India-Pakistan tensions at the border.
A ceasefire was announced on Saturday (May 10), and hence, the organizers took the call to restart the cash-rich league on May 17 with the RCB versus KKR clash at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The final will now be played on June 3.
Ahead of the tournament's resumption, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the BCCI to do away with music, DJS and cheerleaders for 16 remaining matches to keep the ‘sentiments of families’ in mind.
Notably, the border conflict escalated after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation, which left over 100 terrorists dead, was in response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, which left 25 tourists and a Kashmiri local dead.
“What I would really like to see is. These are the last few matches, we have had about 60 games or thereabouts. I think it is the last 15 or 16 games. I would sincerely hope, because of what has happened and some families have lost their near and dear ones, I would like that there is no music. Let's not have the DJS screaming in the middle of an over,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.
“None of that. Let the games be played. Let the crowds come in. Let's just have a tournament, the balance of a tournament. It's just no dancing girls, nothing. Just cricket would be a really nice way to respect the sentiment of the families who have lost their near and dear ones,” he added.
The 75-year-old further stated that the right call was taken in suspending the tournament for a week as there was no room for sport to continue amidst hostility at the border.
“The suspension happened suddenly and quite correctly, too, because at that stage, with hostilities, there was no place for sport. But now that there is a ceasefire, I think the tournament will resume,” Gavaskar remarked.
The revised IPL 2025 schedule includes two double-headers, which will be played on two Sundays. Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will be played on May 29 and 30, respectively, while Qualifier 2 will take place on June 1. The venue details for the playoffs will be released at a later date.