IPL 2025: PBKS vs DC Match called off due to Blackout amid rising border tensions

The match 58 of the ongoing Indian Premier League has been called off due to black out and escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan. The match was scheduled between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the HPCA ground Dharamsala on May 8.

The match first went under rain threats and then was put on hold in the middle of the PBKS innings in the 11th over due to technical issues and a floodlight problem. Later, the match was called off due to a blackout amidst the increasing Indo-Pak border tensions. Just when the match was turning to the mid PBKS Innings, three of the light towers went off and the match was put to a halt, but was expected to start soon. However, after this incident in a while the match was abandoned, and fans with players were asked to evacuate the ground immediately. And BCCI and IPL Governing Council chairman Arun Dhumal were seen requesting people to leave the stadium after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match was called off in Dharamsala.

According to an official BCCI statement, the abandonment was due to a “significant technical failure” at the HPCA Stadium. “Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to in-stadium attendees,” the board’s release stated.

Both the teams and spectators were evacuated from the HPCA stadium and players along with coaches boarded the bus and left for their respective hotels. Earlier than this players families were also ferried out. Copes came and asked everyone to move slowly to avoid any mishaps and handled the situation carefully.

As per Cricbuzz, there was no announcement over the PA system but the local police and the venue operations team requested for a slow evacuation of the stadium. The development followed news reports of military escalation in Jammu, about 200 kilometres away from Dharamsala.