Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have confirmed that their players and support staff have safely returned to Bengaluru. The franchise expressed its gratitude to the BCCI, local authorities, and police forces for ensuring the smooth and safe return of all team members during a highly volatile time.
In an official statement released on Saturday, RCB said, “Our players and extended staff have safely returned to Bengaluru and are now homebound to their respective cities and countries. We’re deeply grateful for the swift coordination and support from the BCCI, local authorities, and the police who made this possible.”
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The situation took a serious turn earlier in the week when the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was halted midway on Thursday due to air raid alerts in nearby regions like Jammu and Pathankot. Following this, the BCCI swiftly stepped in and announced a one-week suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday, citing player safety and broader security concerns.
Our players and extended staff have safely returned to Bengaluru and are now homebound to their respective cities and countries. 🙌
We’re deeply grateful for the swift coordination and support from the BCCI, local authorities, and the police who made this possible. 🙏🇮🇳… pic.twitter.com/8IatIo5Wwl
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 10, 2025
To ensure the safe evacuation of teams from sensitive zones, players from Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were transported to New Delhi via a special Vande Bharat Express arranged by the BCCI, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
This is not the first time the IPL has faced such disruption. In 2021, the tournament was suspended midway due to the COVID-19 outbreak and was later resumed in the UAE. However, this time, the conflict at the border has created new uncertainties.
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Meanwhile, with the World Test Championship final set to begin on June 11, followed by India’s Test tour of England, the BCCI is racing against time to finalize the remainder of IPL 2025. For RCB, the break comes at a crucial moment. With 16 points and second place on the table, they are just one win away from sealing a playoff berth, having remained unbeaten in away fixtures this season under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.
