Amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions, the Indian Premier League (IPL) officially thanked the Indian Railways for operating a special Vande Bharat train after Dharamsala airport was shut due to Pakistani infiltration into Indian airspace.
The Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match was called off, and the entire IPL contingelnt — players, coaches, broadcast teams, and technical staff — was evacuated to New Delhi under tight security.
As Pakistani drones attempted attacks on Indian armed forces and civilians, concerns arose over the safe travel of IPL personnel. The BCCI responded swiftly, arranging for all parties to be moved to Jalandhar station in secure batches, before boarding the Vande Bharat express to Delhi.
Kangra SP Shalini Agnihotri confirmed: “On Friday morning, the entire contingents of both teams, including players, coaching staff, and broadcast personnel, were moved in around 40 to 50 small vehicles from Dharamsala to Hoshiarpur, located at the Punjab border.”
In a video shared by the official IPL account, Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav said:
“There are many team members, staff members, several individuals from BCCI, cameramen, technical experts — everyone’s there. The train is filled. It was amazing the way everything was managed. I want to thank the BCCI and Indian Railways.”
Following these events, the BCCI suspended IPL 2025 for a week. The decision comes in response to cross-border hostilities and to prioritize the safety of players and national security. Players are now expected to return to their homes from Delhi until further notice.
The BCCI stated that updates regarding revised schedules and venues will be shared in due course based on the evolving national situation.
