India’s sports community was struck by a wave of sorrow and anger following the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. Many athletes joined the nation in condemning the violence, with some advocating for a complete halt to sporting relations with Pakistan.

The assault, which claimed at least 26 civilian lives, mostly tourists, and injured several others, occurred in a popular tourist area in south Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), a front for the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli voiced their grief over the tragedy. Tendulkar shared, “The pain of the affected families is unimaginable. India and the world mourn with them, standing united in the pursuit of justice.” Kohli posted on Instagram, “My heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. I pray for peace, strength, and swift justice for this brutal act.” Other cricketers, including Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, echoed similar sentiments. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shared a poignant message: “Targeting innocent people under the guise of religion is pure evil. No belief or cause can justify such horror. What kind of fight disregards human life? May this terror end, and may the perpetrators face unrelenting punishment.”

Former cricketer Shreevats Goswami issued a fiery call to end all sports ties with Pakistan. “This tragedy proves why we shouldn’t play cricket with Pakistan—ever. When the BCCI and government refused to send the team to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, some called it political. But taking innocent Indian lives seems to be their true game,” he wrote. Having recently visited Pahalgam and felt its renewed sense of calm, Goswami added, “This bloodshed breaks your spirit. How long must we remain ‘sporting’ while our people perish? No more.” India has avoided bilateral cricket with Pakistan since 2012-13, and the BCCI opted out of the recent Champions Trophy in Pakistan, though other Indian teams have attended multi-nation events there.

Olympic bronze medalist and BJP member Vijender Singh, visibly outraged, demanded strong action. “Our valiant forces will deliver a powerful response to this cowardly attack. Those trying to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir will never succeed against India’s brave defenders,” he asserted.

Indian cricket coach and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir vowed accountability, stating, “My thoughts are with the grieving families. Those responsible will face justice. India will respond decisively.” Badminton star PV Sindhu wrote, “The Pahalgam attack is heart-wrenching. No cause can justify such cruelty. To the families in pain, you are not alone. Let’s unite and hold onto hope for peace.”

Olympians and Athletes Unite in Condemnation
Olympic gold medalists Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra expressed their devastation. Chopra wrote, “Shattered by the tragedy in Jammu & Kashmir. My prayers go out to the victims and their families.” Bindra added, “The Pahalgam attack is appalling. Violence and hatred have no place in our world. We must stand together against terror.”

The attack, the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, prompted strong reactions across the sports world. Suresh Raina stated, “We condemn this Pakistan-sponsored act. India stands with our Army, J&K Police, and Paramilitary forces in the fight for justice.” Harbhajan Singh wrote, “My heart breaks for those lost in this unforgivable tragedy.”

Hockey legend PR Sreejesh, shuttler Saina Nehwal, and boxer Nikhat Zareen also called for accountability. Sreejesh declared, “Mere words of condemnation aren’t enough—justice must prevail. Terror cannot win.” Nehwal posted, “This attack underscores the threats we face. India is united, and justice will be served. Jai Hind.” Zareen added, “Attacking innocents is an attack on humanity. The Pahalgam tragedy demands immediate justice.”

Former cricketer Parthiv Patel expressed shock: “I’m stunned and furious. The cruelty of this act leaves me numb, but justice will be served.” Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anil Kumble offered condolences, with Kumble stating, “Innocent lives lost to mindless violence. Let’s stand against hate and support the families.” Ravi Shastri called it “a vile act that should unite the nation without exception.”

The unified outrage from India’s sports fraternity underscores a collective demand for justice and a reevaluation of sporting ties with Pakistan amid escalating cross-border tensions.

A senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) addressed allegations of match-fixing leveled against the IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR) following their narrow two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 19.

Jaydeep Bihani, convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s (RCA) ad-hoc committee, claimed RR engaged in match-fixing after failing to chase nine runs in the final over of their home game.

Dismissing the accusations, the BCCI official clarified that the RCA is currently non-functional, replaced by an ad-hoc committee amid upcoming elections. “The RCA is dissolved, and with elections nearing, some are seeking publicity through baseless claims,” the official stated. They emphasized that the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit operates round-the-clock to safeguard the IPL’s integrity, adding, “These allegations lack any substance. Our anti-corruption team ensures the game remains clean.”

The response came after RR sent a sharply worded letter to the BCCI, condemning the RCA ad-hoc committee’s claims. RR argued that Bihani’s statements were unfounded and damaging, stating, “These baseless remarks not only tarnish Rajasthan Royals and Royal Multi Sport Private Limited (RMPL) but also discredit the Rajasthan Sports Council, the BCCI, and cricket itself.”

According to The Times of India, the conflict may stem from a reduction in complimentary tickets allocated to the RCA. Previously, RR provided 1,800 free tickets for Jaipur home matches, but with the RCA dissolved, the franchise cut this to 1,000-1,200 tickets this season. A RR insider explained, “The BCCI instructed us to coordinate with the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) instead of the RCA for all arrangements this season.”

The insider suggested that the RCA ad-hoc committee’s grievances arise from unmet demands for additional tickets. “Certain committee members are pushing for excessive tickets, which we’ve declined. This is the real cause of the controversy,” they said.

RR also refuted Bihani’s claims that the franchise sidelined the RCA. In their letter, RR stated, “As per BCCI directives and contractual obligations, we work with the state association and government. For 18 years, RMPL has successfully collaborated with relevant bodies. The BCCI has designated the RSSC as the host for IPL matches in Jaipur, and we are working closely with them and the state government to deliver a seamless IPL season.”

A seemingly tense interaction between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka after the IPL 2025 match between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants has triggered fresh speculation about the nature of their past association. Rahul, who captained LSG from 2022 to 2024, parted ways with the franchise ahead of this season and was picked by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 auction.

On Tuesday, as Delhi Capitals secured a comfortable eight-wicket win over LSG, Rahul played a key role, scoring an unbeaten 57 off 44 balls. But it wasn’t just his performance that drew attention. After the match, the star cricketer shared a noticeably distant and brief handshake with Goenka, the LSG owner. The interaction was caught on camera and quickly went viral, with fans calling it a “cold handshake.”

History of tension revisited

Rahul’s departure from LSG came after a widely circulated video from IPL 2024 showed Goenka speaking animatedly with him following a disappointing loss to SunRisers Hyderabad. Though Rahul officially cited a desire for “more freedom” and a “relaxed dressing room” as reasons for his exit, the viral footage had fuelled speculation of internal discord.

Their reunion at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday marked the first on-field meeting since that contentious departure, and the awkward body language seemed to reflect unresolved tension. The brief encounter even prompted Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari to post a cryptic social media message: “Cold hand-shake.”

Goenka downplays friction

Amidst growing chatter around the incident, Sanjiv Goenka has addressed the matter publicly. Speaking on a podcast, he described KL Rahul as a “shareef insaan” (a decent person) and reiterated his respect and affection for the player.

“KL Rahul has always been family for me and he will remain that way,” Goenka stated. “He captained Lucknow for three years and gave great results. I wish him the best in life. He is honest and talented, and I hope the world sees more of his ability.”

New records for Rahul

Despite the off-field spotlight, Rahul reached a significant milestone during the game. He became the fastest batter to score 5000 runs in IPL history, achieving the feat in just 130 innings. The 32-year-old surpassed renowned names like David Warner, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Shikhar Dhawan in the elite list.

With a promising start to his new stint at Delhi Capitals, Rahul appears focused on letting his bat do the talking—even if the past continues to shadow him on and off the field.