IPL 2025: RR, PBKS Players Along With Match Officials Sing National Anthem To Pay Tribute To Armed Forces; Video

Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals' players along with match officials paid tribute to the Indian armed forces before the IPL 2025 match on Sunday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur by singing the national anthem. On the big screen at the venue, a message for the Indian Army was displayed by stating, 'THANK YOU ARMED FORCES'.

The BCCI decided to suspend the ten-team tournament officially on May 9 after the game between the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was suspended due to a sudden floodlight failure. It later emerged that a few Pakistani drone strikes had occurred, with the players and spectators needing to be evacuated from the stadium immediately. With the ceasefire between India and Pakistan announced on May 10, the BCCI decided to resume the tournament on May 17.

Watch the video here of the players singing the national anthem to pay tribute to the armed forces for doing a commendable job at the border:

BRILLIANT EFFORT FROM BCCI 🫡

NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THANKS TO INDIAN ARMED FORCES 🇮🇳🫡🙌#RRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/bTGRTW6Hp9

— ANKITA KUMARI (@ankitajkhs) May 18, 2025

Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer opts to bat first after winning the toss

Meanwhile, the toss at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium went in favour of the Punjab Kings, with Shreyas Iyer opting to bat first. A win for Punjab will help them qualify for the playoffs, while the Royals are already out of contention.

Rajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kwena Maphaka, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Punjab Kings XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Mitchell Owen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.