A vehicle waits to transport the players after the authorities asked to evacuate the stadium (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League 2025 took a dramatic turn on Thursday evening as rising tensions between India and Pakistan forced an abrupt end to the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala. What started as a promising game turned into a tense evacuation, led by IPL officials and the BCCI.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The match began after a one-hour delay due to rain, with Punjab Kings putting on a show in the first innings.
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya hammered a 122-run stand in just 10 overs, giving fans something to cheer about. Arya led the charge with a blazing 70 off 34 balls, while Prabhsimran supported him with a steady 50 not out off 28. The duo looked unstoppable until the lights at the stadium suddenly went off. Only one of the four towers stayed on.The situation escalated beyond just a technical glitch. With security concerns rising due to reported missile activity from Pakistan and a tense regional atmosphere, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal was seen on the field, urging spectators to leave immediately. A video of him directing the crowd to exit has since gone viral.The match was officially abandoned after 10.1 overs. Moments later, teams and staff were escorted out of the venue in different vehicles. The players were first transported by bus to Pathankot, 85 km away, where they boarded a special train to Delhi arranged by the BCCI. By May 9, with the threat level rising and multiple northern airports closed, the BCCI made the unprecedented decision to suspend IPL 2025. 16 matches remain in the season, but no clear date has been set for resumption.
