Cricket united in grief on Wednesday as two high-profile IPL captains—Pat Cummins of SunRisers Hyderabad and Hardik Pandya of Mumbai Indians—condemned the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 innocent tourists dead. The two captains walked out for the toss at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad wearing black armbands, a silent tribute to the victims of the senseless violence that took place in the picturesque Baisaran meadow a day earlier.
The attack, described as one of the most gruesome in recent memory, saw terrorists, disguised in army fatigues, open fire on a group of tourists, leaving a trail of devastation in one of the country’s most serene travel spots. The chilling visuals and aftermath shook the nation, sparking outrage and heartbreak across the cricket fraternity.
Speaking at the toss, Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya addressed the tragedy with solemnity and compassion. “On behalf of myself and my team, I want to express our deepest condolences to the families of those affected. These cowardly acts have no place in our society. We strongly condemn them,” Pandya said.
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SunRisers captain Cummins, visibly moved, echoed the sentiment. “It’s devastating to witness such loss of life. From all of us at SunRisers and the Australian cricket community, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones,” said the Australian skipper, who received a warm welcome from the Hyderabad crowd.
🚨 Toss 🚨 @mipaltan elected to field against @SunRisers. #MI captain Hardik Pandya and #SRH captain Pat Cummins condemn the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack and pay homage to the victims. #TATAIPL | #SRHvMI pic.twitter.com/qfgPeWpmIF
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2025
As a mark of respect, players, support staff, and broadcasters all wore black armbands, and a minute’s silence was observed before the match. JioStar’s commentary panel—featuring Harsha Bhogle, Anil Kumble, Ambati Rayudu, and Mark Boucher—also paid their respects with a moment of silence in the commentary box. To maintain a sombre tone, the BCCI decided to do away with fireworks and cheerleader performances during the game.
Earlier in the day, several Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mohammed Shami, condemned the attack on social media, calling for justice and peace. Former India wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami went a step further, urging a complete sporting boycott of Pakistan.
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The attack was later claimed by the Resistance Front, a shadow group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes, with bodies scattered and survivors crying for help as locals rushed in to aid the wounded. Cricket, often a unifying force, stood together in mourning and in calling for peace in a time of great sorrow.
