Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni presented a cheque to a representative of the CRPF on behalf of CSK.  Dhoni, along with team director R Srinivasan, presented an amount of INR 2 crores after the Armed Forces were felicitated.

The short ceremony was arranged in the wake of the Pulwama attack that had claimed the lives of 44 CRPF jawans back in February. 

KKR is definitely better balanced than last year: Jacques Kallis

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) presented the budgeted amount of IPL opening ceremony to CRPF and the Indian Armed Forces ahead of the kick-off to the 2019 edition between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. This was the first time in 11 seasons that IPL did not witness an opening ceremony as the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) decided to call it off. Instead of it, Madras Regiment Band from Chennai began the proceedings at the Chepauk before the match. Following it, CoA and BCCI members presented CRPF and Armed Forces with the respective cheques.

IPL 2019: Military bands to perform ahead of opening match

CoA Chairman, Vinod Rai said, “As a federation, we felt it was best not to hold a regular IPL opening ceremony. Instead, we decided to contribute the amount towards a cause that is so important and close to everyone’s heart.”

The estimated cost of holding an IPL ceremony is INR 20 crores and the CoA administering BCCI has unanimously decided to donate INR 11 crores to Indian Army, INR 7 crores to CRPF, and INR 1 crore each to Navy and Air Force.