As a mark of respect to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, players and officials in tonight’s IPL 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will wear black armbands. The game, to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, will begin with a minute’s silence observed across the ground, as confirmed by reports from Times Now.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also decided to forego fireworks and cheerleaders for the evening, creating a subdued atmosphere in solidarity with the grieving families. The horrific attack, which took place on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, saw gunmen open fire on civilians, killing at least 26 tourists and injuring many more.
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The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the massacre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon returning from his shortened Saudi Arabia trip, held an urgent meeting with key officials, including NSA Ajit Doval and EAM S Jaishankar, promising justice for the victims.
Players and umpires to wear black armbands during SRH vs MI clash for Pahalgam victims
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/q2AyOTlYl3#IPL2025 #Pahalgam #PahalgamTerrorAttack #JammuandKashmir pic.twitter.com/TPiNKyWCWT
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 23, 2025
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also cut short her U.S. visit in the aftermath of the attack. In a rare display of unity, the Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown—the first in over three decades—to protest the brutal killings.
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Meanwhile, in cricketing terms, Mumbai Indians come into the match with momentum, having won four of their last eight games after a shaky start under skipper Hardik Pandya. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, are struggling, with only two wins in seven matches so far. MI had previously defeated SRH earlier this season at the Wankhede Stadium, and will look to repeat that result—this time, in a match that holds far deeper emotional significance than just points on a table.
