As the roar of fans echoed through Dharamshala, the lights suddenly died and so did the game. A gripping IPL clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abruptly suspended mid-innings after a blackout triggered mass evacuation, exposing the creeping shadow of rising India-Pakistan tensions.
With Punjab at 10.1 overs, officials halted the match and cleared the stadium, citing serious security concerns. The chaos followed closely on the heels of an earlier venue change — the May 11 showdown between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab was moved from Dharamshala to Ahmedabad, Indian media reported, amid fears of a possible Pakistani strike.
A cheerleader at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 recounted a harrowing experience on Thursday after a sudden power outage at Dharamshala’s HPCA Stadium led to the abrupt suspension of the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. The game was halted during the first innings after just 10.1 overs.
A video that quickly went viral captured the fear and confusion as one cheerleader described the ordeal:
“The whole stadium was evacuated mid-game. It was terrifying. People were shouting that bombs were coming.”
Still visibly shaken, she added,
“It’s still very, very scary. We just want to leave Dharamshala. I hope the IPL authorities take care of us. I don’t know why I’m not crying—I think I’m still in shock.”
The tension has led to Dharamshala airport being shut down, as authorities brace for any escalation in the high-stakes standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.