The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 schedule has come under scrutiny after India launched precision attacks on nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of “Operation Sindoor,” a military reaction to the Pahalgam terror incident that claimed 26 civilian lives.
The forthcoming matches for teams like the Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in doubt since a number of airports in northern India, particularly those in border states, including IPL locations like Dharamshala and Chandigarh, have been temporarily closed.
After the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, last month, Operation Sindoor was carried out in the wee hours of Wednesday, May 7. Targeting nine terror infrastructure locations in Pakistan and the PoK, the Indian Air Force was led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. In northern India, the military action has resulted in immediate airspace limitations. These include the temporary closure of airports in Dharamshala, Amritsar, Jammu, and Leh, as well as partial disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is the nation’s busiest airport.
For the sake of operational security and passenger safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has put all flights into and out of certain areas under review. In addition to suspending flights to impacted cities, national carrier Air India and other airlines have announced nationwide emergency drills, including blackout drills scheduled for 7:30 PM, which coincides with the start of the IPL evening games.
The Dharamshala and Delhi IPL matches, which are locations for the league stage’s final leg, are under pressure as a result of the incident. At the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, PBKS will host DC on May 8 and MI on May 11. DC will also play the Gujarat Titans (GT) at night in Delhi on the eleventh.
After a close match against GT at Wankhede on May 6, the Hardik Pandya-led side is now scheduled to travel to Dharamshala to play Punjab. However, MI has a logistical hurdle as a result of travel restrictions and stopped flights.
Road travel or flying through Chandigarh are two potential alternatives, but security concerns might compel the BCCI to think about moving games back to Mullanpur, PBKS’s other home ground, or perhaps Delhi, depending on practicality.
Given that DC and PBKS are already in Dharamshala for their match on May 8, there’s a chance it will proceed as planned, albeit with strict security. However, because to ongoing nationwide drills, the match between the MI and DC and the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings is also in doubt. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has not yet issued an official comment on the postponement, but one is anticipated shortly.
At 15 points right now, PBKS has to win two games or more to guarantee a postseason berth. DC needs to win all of their remaining games in order to qualify with 13 points. With two games remaining and 14 points, MI needs to win both games handily to guarantee a spot in the top four.
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