Sunil Gavaskar suggest major change for remaining IPL 2025 matches: 'No show-sha baji, dancing girls, DJs screaming'

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to not have “dancing girls” and “screaming DJs” for the remaining matches of the 2025 Indian Premier League. Gavaskar, a regular presence in the IPL commentary box over the years, urged the board to keep celebrations at a minimum as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month as well as in the recent military conflict between India and Pakistan.

“Respect the sentiment of the families who have lost their near and dear ones”

“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 crowd but no music. Let’s not have the DJs screaming in the middle of an over. None of that.

“Let’s just have a tournament, the balance of a tournament. 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,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League had been suspended for a week on Friday, a day after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium was abruptly called off due to security concerns, with the Pakistan military targeting several Indian cities in Jammu Kashmir, Punjab and other border states in response to the Indian armed forces’ ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Among the cities targeted by Pakistani drones was Pathankot, located less than 100 kilometres from Dharamsala, resulting in players and support staff as well as broadcast crew having to be escorted to New Delhi by bus and a special Vande Bharat train under tight security.

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The BCCI, however, announced a revised schedule for the remaining matches of the season on Monday, two days after India and Pakistan arrived at a ceasefire agreement. The remaining matches will take place between 17 May and 3 June with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first match after the suspension on Saturday.

Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi and Lucknow have been assigned hosting duties for the remaining league matches, with the BCCI set to take a call on the venues for the playoffs, including the final on 3 June.