Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta has said that any decision to resume the Indian Premier League (IPL) must reflect the current sentiment of the nation, as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate.
The IPL was suspended for one week on Friday following India’s accusations that Pakistan carried out drone and missile attacks on three military bases. Pakistan has denied the claims but says at least 31 people have been killed and 57 injured by Indian airstrikes since Wednesday. The situation follows India’s launch of “Operation Sindoor” earlier in the week, and comes after 26 civilians were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir last month — an attack India blames on Pakistan-supported militants, an allegation Islamabad rejects.
“As important as cricket is to India as a nation, there are certain things that are much more important,” Dasgupta told BBC Sport. “The last couple of days, things have become more intense, and it only makes sense at this moment. The sentiment of the nation is very different.”
There are 16 matches remaining in this season’s IPL, which was originally scheduled to end on May 25. Some overseas players, including from England, have already begun leaving the country amid the uncertainty.
Dasgupta, who represented India in eight Test matches, said that while a restart is “possible,” it may not be “realistic” under the current circumstances. He suggested options such as limiting the remaining games to fewer venues and increasing the number of double-headers to compress the schedule — but emphasised that public mood must come first.
“If people aren’t ready for cricket emotionally, then it doesn’t matter how many logistical plans you make,” he added.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce a new schedule, stating that further decisions will be made after consultations with stakeholders and a full assessment of the situation.
