His performance will commemorate the valiant individuals involved in Operation Sindoor and honor the civilians who tragically lost their lives during the Pahalgam terror attack.
The ceremony is set to commence at 6 pm on Tuesday and will be broadcasted and live streamed on the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar application respectively. Following Mahadevan’s performance, the toss will take place at 7 pm IST, and the match is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm IST.
During the season’s opening ceremony in Kolkata, stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, and Karan Aujla captivated the audience.
However, Mahadevan’s tribute to the defense personnel comes in light of unusual circumstances, as the season faced a temporary suspension in May due to the armed conflict between India and Pakistan. The match between PBKS and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dharamshala on May 8 had to be halted midway, requiring spectators to be evacuated from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium just 10 overs into the first innings.
As a result, most players returned to their countries due to the uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the tournament.
Although the IPL resumed on May 17, several foreign players, including Mitchell Starc and Sam Curran, did not rejoin their teams. Consequently, franchises had to urgently secure replacements. The adjusted schedule for the remainder of the season also resulted in key players like Jos Buttler and Will Jacks departing for international commitments, impacting their teams’ chances at a critical stage of the competition.
First Published: Jun 3, 2025 2:38 AM IST
