WATCH: BCCI’s heartfelt tribute to Indian armed forces before Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 match

BCCI’s tribute to armed forces before RR vs PBKS

Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings players lined up for the Indian national anthem on Sunday before their IPL 2025 match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in observance of the Indian military. The IPL 2025 resumed on Saturday after a one-week break due to tensions with Pakistan across the border, and this was the first full game since then.

The enthusiasm surrounding the league’s return was, however, drenched when rain in Bengaluru forced the cancellation of the highly anticipated Saturday match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders.

As a tribute to the Indian armed forces players joined together to sing the national anthem in honor of the Indian military’s tremendous sacrifice and service, honoring their unwavering bravery in defending the country.

The message “Thank You Armed Forces” was prominently displayed on the stadium screens as the Indian national anthem echoed through the venue.

Coming to the match, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed his gratitude to the Indian armed forces for protecting the nation’s borders during the ongoing tensions with Pakistan.

“Kudos to the Army forces who have worked for the country and made sure that we’re in a comfortable position,” Shreyas said during the toss after electing to bat first.

Mitchell Owen, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai were the three overseas players included in the Punjab Kings lineup. On the Rajasthan Royals side, a fully fit Sanju Samson made his return to lead the team, taking Nitish Rana’s spot in the playing XI, while Kwena Maphaka replaced Jofra Archer.

Punjab Kings are currently in third place with 15 points from 11 games and will be aiming for a win against Rajasthan Royals to move closer to playoff qualification. Meanwhile, RR has already been eliminated from the playoff race.