BCCI pays tribute to Indian armed forces' Operation Sindoor during KKR vs CSK game

Pic: @IPL2025Auction/X

The Board of Control for Cricket in India paid a heartfelt tribute to the Indian Armed Forces' recent military success, ‘Operation Sindoor', during the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

‘Operation Sindoor' was a precision strike conducted by India targeting terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The coordinated offensive was carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and is being hailed as a significant achievement in the fight against cross-border terrorism.

In recognition of the armed forces' efforts, the BCCI incorporated a special tribute into the high-profile IPL encounter. Players from both KKR and CSK assembled before the match to stand in solemn respect for the national anthem. Throughout the game, the stadium screens prominently displayed messages such as 'Proud of our Armed Forces'.

Meanwhile, Chennai's left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad delivered a memorable performance, exploiting the turning conditions to perfection. His impressive spell of four for 31 helped restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest 179 for six in a crucial must-win IPL fixture.

KKR got off to a flying start, racing to 67 for 1 in the powerplay, but their momentum was soon derailed by Ahmad's timely breakthroughs. The Afghan spinner shifted the game's momentum immediately after the fielding restrictions were lifted, striking twice in a pivotal over. First, he outfoxed Sunil Narine (26 off 17 balls; 4x4, 1x6) with flight and turn, with MS Dhoni executing a sharp stumping. Just four deliveries later, Angkrish Raghuvanshi edged behind, handing CSK a crucial double blow.

Earlier, KKR, aware of their fragile playoff hopes, opted to bat first with intent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened with a boundary and dispatched Anshul Kamboj for a six in the second over, only to fall to the same bowler shortly after. Ajinkya Rahane and Narine capitalized on the powerplay, with Rahane surviving a life on 15, dropped by Pathirana off Kamboj. Narine took on Ravichandran Ashwin, smashing two boundaries and a six in his first over

Once the field spread, CSK's spin trio asserted control. Jadeja applied the squeeze with a tidy one for 34, while Ashwin was miserly, conceding only 19 runs from his three overs, extracting sharp turn and bounce to keep the batters in check.