Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 2: Celebrated musician Shankar Mahadevan is set to deliver a heartfelt musical tribute to the Indian armed forces during the closing ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The performance will take place on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, ahead of the rescheduled final match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Joining Shankar on stage will be his sons, Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan, in a special family performance that aims to honour the courage and sacrifice of the Indian military.
Expressing his excitement, Shivam Mahadevan shared a heartfelt message on Instagram:
“See you at the FINAL tomorrow ❤️ What an honour this is !!!! #IPLFINAL #TRIBUTE #SSSLIVE #IPL.”
Instagram Post
This tribute comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s swift and forceful military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, the operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling and attempted drone attacks, India carried out a series of targeted strikes, damaging critical infrastructure at 11 Pakistani airbases. Hostilities officially ceased on May 10 after diplomatic channels brokered a temporary resolution.
Due to these escalations, the IPL 2025 was temporarily suspended for a week. Matches resumed on May 17, with the final pushed from May 25 to June 3 to ensure player and spectator safety.
The Mahadevans’ performance is expected to be a powerful moment of unity and patriotism, reflecting the nation’s gratitude to its defenders.