IPL 2025 restart: Sunil Gavaskar wants no more ‘dancing girls’, ‘screaming DJs’ this season

Cricket and glamour are combined in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is nothing short of a spectacular spectacle. However, batting great Sunil Gavaskar has asked the BCCI to keep it low-key and only concentrate on cricket when IPL 2025 resumes on May 17 in light of the current circumstances and the growing cross-border tension between India and Pakistan.

As a gesture of respect for the families who lost loved ones in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, batting great Sunil Gavaskar has called for the rest of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season to be played without music, cheerleaders, or DJs energising the crowds in the stadiums. Rising tensions between the two nations caused the IPL to be suspended; however, it is now scheduled to resume on May 17.

"What I would really like to see is, these are the last few matches. I think we have had about 60 games or thereabouts. I think it is the last 15 or 16 games. I would sincerely... because of what has happened and some families have lost their near and dear ones, I would like all the show-sha baji that goes with it to not be there. Just the game to be played. Let there be a crowd but no music. Let's not have the DJs screaming in the middle of an over. None of that,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.

"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.

On Monday evening, the BCCI announced the updated IPL 2025 schedule. Six locations will host 17 games beginning on May 17; the finals will take place on June 3. Two doubleheaders are included in the updated schedule, and they will be played on two Sundays. While Qualifier 2 will take place on June 1, Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will take place on May 29 and 30, respectively.

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