'Thank you for protecting': Hardik Pandya salutes India's armed forces amid India-Pakistan tensions

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 10, 2025, 09:26 IST

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Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, cricketer Hardik Pandya voiced his support for the Indian Armed Forces. As a consequence of the Indo-Pak tension, several sporting events have already faced disruptions, including the IPL 2025, which the BCCI suspended for a week. The decision followed concerns from franchisees, players, broadcasters, and sponsors.

'Thank you for protecting': Hardik Pandya salutes India's armed forces amid India-Pakistan tensions

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Star Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya offered his support to the Indian Armed Forces on Friday amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, expressing gratitude for their service and bravery.The 31-year-old shared on Instagram: "Proud and grateful to our armed forces for the courage and sacrifices they've made. Thank you for protecting and keeping everyone in our country safe."Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.

Operation Sindoor

Various sporting events across India were halted or delayed on Friday following increased cross-border tensions with Pakistan.

The BCCI suspended the ongoing IPL 2025 for a week, effective immediately, on Friday afternoon due to the heightened situation between the nations.

IPL 2025 suspended: What happens next?

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated: "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week. Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders.""The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans; while the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders," he further added.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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