In an unprecedented move during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, the match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala was called off midway due to escalating cross-border tensions. The game, which was halted in the 11th over of Punjab Kings’ innings, was officially cancelled after a series of coordinated attacks from Pakistan struck various regions of India, including Jammu.
Vande Bharat deployed for swift evacuation of players and officials
Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) immediately stepped in to ensure the safety of all stakeholders involved in the match. A special Vande Bharat train has been allocated to transport players, support staff, and match officials from the conflict-prone region to Delhi. The evacuation is being conducted from Una, the nearest accessible railway station to Dharamshala.
Players, Broadcasters travel together in high-security
Inside the Vande Bharat train, a video clip captured a calm yet alert atmosphere as players and officials settled in for their journey to Delhi. The footage featured several well-known faces including Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Faf du Plessis, and Marco Jansen, all seated alongside their respective teammates. Also spotted were commentators and broadcasters like Anjum Chopra, Alan Wilkins, and Graeme Swann, highlighting the scale of the evacuation effort.
Speaking from his seat, Kuldeep expressed his appreciation, saying, “Quite a few BCCI members and technical staff is there. I would like to thank BCCI and Indian Railways for arranging this.”
We couldn’t have asked for a safer and more secure return, all thanks to @RailMinIndia and @BCCI 🙌pic.twitter.com/t1KqgfQO0x
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 9, 2025
Speaking about the game, the first signs of disruption came when one of the floodlight towers at the HPCA Stadium abruptly shut down. While many in the crowd believed it to be a routine technical snag, the subsequent failure of two more towers led to visible confusion. Soon after, officials instructed spectators to vacate the stadium, prompting concerns about a more serious underlying issue. Within minutes, the IPL confirmed via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle that the game had been cancelled.
Also READ: When will IPL 2025 resume? BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla shares major update
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