Why Are Indian Cricketers Rallying Behind Operation Sindoor?

New Delhi, May 7 (NationPress) The Indian cricket community—both former and current—came together to honor the nation's military personnel following the initiation of Operation Sindoor, which involved a series of precise strikes aimed at terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.

The military operation was executed just after midnight, targeting nine high-value terror sites in what officials labelled as a “calculated, restrained yet firm” reaction to the Pahalgam terror assault that resulted in the loss of 26 innocent lives.

Among the first to publicly acknowledge the efforts of the Indian armed forces were former cricketers Gautam Gambhir, Aakash Chopra, and Pragyan Ojha. Each shared patriotic sentiments on social media, accompanied by the phrase “Jai Hind”.

This display of support extended beyond retired players. Kolkata Knight Riders' spinner Varun Chakravarthy, currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, also joined in. He posted the official image of the operation on his Instagram story.

According to Indian defense authorities, all nine terror sites targeted during the operation were connected to internationally recognized terrorist organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The strikes were carried out with precision to prevent civilian casualties or damage to Pakistani military infrastructure, highlighting India’s dedication to a measured yet determined counter-terrorism stance.

This strategic offensive followed extensive intelligence gathering, with government insiders emphasizing that the operation was not merely a display of power, but a message of accountability. The goal was to neutralize high-value targets while steering clear of escalating regional tensions.

The Indian Air Force engaged the terrorist positions without breaching Pakistan's airspace on that Wednesday. The Pakistani military was taken completely off guard when the Indian strikes commenced around 1:44 a.m.

A statement from the Defense Ministry clarified that in order to avoid further escalation, no military installations in Pakistan were targeted during Wednesday’s actions.

Operation Sindoor was initiated 14 days following the terrorist attack in the tourist area of Baisaran in Pahalgam, where suspects are believed to have ties to Pakistan.

This operation has sparked a powerful surge of national pride across the country, with hashtags like #OperationSindoor, #JaiHind, and #IndianArmy trending on social media.