BCCI Arranges Special Vande Bharat Train for IPL Teams After Match Called Off in Dharamshala

Floodlight failure and heightened regional tensions prompt evacuation of players, staff, and broadcasters; Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals clash cancelled mid-game

Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh), May 9: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) arranged a special Vande Bharat train to transport over 300 individuals — including players from Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), support staff, and broadcast crew — from Dharamshala to Delhi. The move followed the abrupt cancellation of Thursday night’s IPL 2025 match due to a floodlight failure at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, compounded by prevailing regional security concerns.

According to BCCI sources, the decision was taken to ensure the safe and swift evacuation of players and officials amid ongoing tensions following Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s reported cross-border missile and drone activity.

The PBKS vs DC match was called off during the 11th over of the first innings after technical issues disabled the stadium’s floodlights. At the time of suspension, Punjab Kings were cruising at 122/1, with Prabhsimran Singh unbeaten on 50 and Shreyas Iyer yet to score.

Shortly after the cancellation, fans were evacuated from the stadium, some chanting “Pakistan Murdabad” in response to the recent attacks on Indian military zones. Both teams were quickly escorted back to their hotel under tight security.

Punjab Kings later confirmed the development on social media with a succinct post: “Match has been called off.”

The match had started with promise, with PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and opting to bat first. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh launched a fiery assault, taking the team past the 50-run mark in just four overs. Arya scored a quickfire 50 off 25 balls, while Prabhsimran notched his fourth consecutive half-century of IPL 2025 in 28 balls.

The cancellation coincided with a series of escalating incidents along the India-Pakistan border. On Thursday, India intercepted eight Pakistani missiles aimed at Jammu’s border regions and downed multiple drones over Udhampur and Jaisalmer. As a precaution, blackouts were enforced across sensitive regions, including Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Bikaner.

India had earlier launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). New Delhi has since warned that any further provocation will be met with a strong response.