The Indian Premier League 2025 has hit an unexpected pause, as rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border have forced the BCCI to suspend the tournament for a week. The decision came shortly after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals fixture in Dharamsala was abandoned midway due to air raid alerts in the nearby regions of Jammu and Pathankot.
What followed was a swift and coordinated exodus of foreign players and support staff, who began flying back to their home countries over the weekend. Franchise teams acted quickly to ensure the safety of their personnel. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) issued a statement confirming that their players and extended support staff had returned to Bengaluru before heading to their respective homes and countries.
RCB’s overseas lineup included stars like Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Philip Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, and Nuwan Thushara. The support staff also featured high-profile names, including head coach Andy Flower, bowling coach Adam Griffith, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, physio Evan Speechly, and analyst Freddie Wilde.
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“We’re deeply grateful for the swift coordination by the BCCI, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies. Their support ensured a smooth transition for everyone’s safe return,” the RCB statement read.
Foreign players asked to return to their country as IPL 2025 postponed for a week due to India-Pakistan tension https://t.co/JHQVmFZwe3
— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) May 10, 2025
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) confirmed that a few of their overseas players departed on Saturday, while others chose to remain in India temporarily. Similar developments unfolded for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with players from both domestic and international contingents leaving for their respective destinations. KKR’s squad had been stationed in Hyderabad ahead of their scheduled match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Following the suspended Dharamsala fixture, players from Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were evacuated to Jalandhar under tight security and later transported to New Delhi via a special Vande Bharat Express train. A PBKS official revealed that most of their foreign players have now flown home.
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BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that revised schedules and venues for the remainder of IPL 2025 would be announced after a thorough assessment with relevant stakeholders and security agencies.
The suspension follows India’s military strikes across the border in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, adding a grave layer of complexity to this year’s IPL season.
