Table of Contents
Despite reports of a shutdown at the Dharamsala airport and heightened regional tensions following ‘Operation Sindoor,’ believed to be related to India’s recent actions in Pakistan, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 appears to be carrying on with its scheduled matches without immediate disruption.
Dharamsala experiences the impact of closed airport
The picturesque city of Dharamsala, a key venue for upcoming IPL fixtures, is reportedly experiencing the impact of the airport closure. However, on the ground, preparations for the scheduled cricket matches seem largely unaffected, according to franchise officials.
Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to host Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium on Thursday, May 8. Both teams proceeded with their practice sessions today, as planned, in anticipation of their match slated for tomorrow.
Franchises awaits a call from the BCCI and IPL officials
Team officials maintain that it is “business as usual” unless an official directive comes from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the IPL governing body.
“We’ve not had any information from the BCCI and IPL officials so far. We are going ahead as per the original schedule,” a Punjab Kings official was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. This sentiment underscores the current stance of the franchises – operating under the assumption that games will proceed unless notified otherwise. Notably, the Chairman of the IPL, Arun Singh Dhumal, hails from Dharamsala, a detail that adds a layer of local context to the situation, though it doesn’t appear to have influenced official communications regarding the schedule.
Also READ: Sam Billings reacts to Indian Army’s operation against terror camps in Pakistan
Looking further ahead, Mumbai Indians (MI) are also scheduled to travel to Dharamsala on Thursday. Their fixture against Punjab Kings is scheduled for May 11, and as of now, those travel plans remain unchanged.
Adding to the picture of minimal immediate impact, planned blackout drills for Wednesday evening are also not causing any changes to the on-ground situation for the teams or the league schedule. “We’ve not had information from the BCCI with regard to this,” stated another franchise official, reiterating the lack of communication about potential adjustments.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is also proceeding as scheduled tonight, May 7.
Also READ: “Absolutely no” – Gautam Gambhir shares his bold stance on India-Pakistan cricket relations
