Security has been ramped up at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi after the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) received a chilling bomb threat via email on Friday morning. The Delhi Police’s bomb squad swiftly launched a full-scale sweep of the stadium, carrying out an extensive security inspection of the premises.
The threat arrived just two days before the now-suspended IPL 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans, which was scheduled for May 11. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put the tournament on hold for a week in light of escalating national security concerns following heightened tensions with Pakistan. Notably, this isn’t the first such scare—Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium and other institutions across states have also been targeted with similar anonymous threats in recent days.
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“The email stated that since you (India) carried out the Sindoor attack, we will now blow up your stadium,” revealed DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma in a statement to News18 CricketNext. “We immediately contacted Delhi Police. Bomb squads arrived quickly, combed the stadium thoroughly, and we’ve tightened security even further. The IPL had already put us on high alert, but this took it a step higher. The authorities will now take over and handle it.”
The Arun Jaitley Stadium received a bomb threat via email on Friday morning, and a police complaint has been registered, a top DDCA official told IANS. “There will be a bomb blast in your stadium. We have a committed Pakistan sleeper cell active in India. The blast will be our… pic.twitter.com/vkOgUEY5DT
— IANS (@ians_india) May 9, 2025
The threat appears linked to Operation Sindoor, under which India reportedly launched missile strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, a direct response to the horrific April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. Tensions have since soared, triggering nationwide security alerts.
In its official statement on Friday, the BCCI said the league would remain suspended for a week, with further decisions on rescheduling and venue changes pending consultations with authorities and stakeholders.
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“At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands with the nation,” the statement read. “We salute the bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces leading Operation Sindoor, whose heroism continues to protect and inspire the country.”
Whether the Arun Jaitley Stadium will host any fixtures in the revised schedule remains uncertain for now.
