IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings Players Evacuated by Indian Railways Special Train from Dharamsala
DC and PBKS players evacuated by special train amid border tensions
The IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) was abandoned mid-play on May 8 following a sudden blackout and air raid alerts near the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, as India-Pakistan tensions escalated sharply.
Around 9:35 PM IST, the stadium’s floodlights were abruptly turned off, after a top BCCI official made a call prompting an immediate shutdown. Spectators were urged to vacate the stadium, and players—still in full cricket gear—were escorted straight to their hotels without post-match formalities.
IPL Chairperson Arun Dhumal oversaw the crowd evacuation efforts personally, ensuring calm and safety amid the chaos. In response to the growing threat, a special train was organized on May 8 to evacuate players, coaching staff, and broadcasters to New Delhi, which safely arrived on May 9.
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Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi.
We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽@AshwiniVaishnaw | @JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/tUwzc5nGWD— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 9, 2025
Earlier that day, the BCCI had announced a one-week suspension of IPL 2025, citing national security concerns and ongoing military operations after Pakistan’s aerial attacks and the terror strike in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Franchises were informed privately about the suspension on Friday morning, allowing time to secure early exits for Indian players, while overseas players’ departures were coordinated for the same evening with the help of embassies and security agencies.
