IPL 2025: Former India captain Kapil Dev opens up on BCCI's invitation to Indian Armed Forces' chiefs

Kapil Dev. Pic/AFP

Following the success of 'Operation Sindoor', the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited the chiefs of all three Indian Armed Forces to attend the IPL 2025 final.

The IPL 2025 is scheduled to be played on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

In an interaction with the media, the captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning Team India, Kapil Dev, said, "I am proud that the IPL has invited Chiefs of all the forces. We need to pay them respect for what they have done for us and our country. I just want to say, lets not talk but show unity and power. 'Zyada badi baat karne ki zarurat nahi hai, bade kaam karne ki zarurat hai, jaise hamari Army ne kia hai'..."

Previously, due to the escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, the IPL 2025 was suspended for a one-week time.

Earlier on Tuesday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had sent an invitation to Chiefs of all three Armed forces, top-ranked officers and soldiers for the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, which will take place on June 3 in Ahmedabad.

Operation Sindoor was India's decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Coming to the IPL 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) sealed their top spot on the table and a slot in the qualifier with a win over Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday.

Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025 is scheduled to be played between PBKS and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 29. Later, Mumbai Indians will clash against Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator scheduled to be played on May 30.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, too, expressed his views by saying, "It is an unbelievable step. The BCCI has taken a great initiative from a perspective where the entire nation stands united, and the nation must salute the armed forces. I give a lot of credit to the BCCI and the Armed Forces, who have been unconditionally helping, saving, and protecting us".

(With ANI Inputs)