Unexpected Technical Glitch Forces Abandonment of Punjab vs Delhi IPL 2025 Match in Dharamshala
A power failure at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium led to the unexpected suspension and eventual cancellation of the IPL 2025 match between Punjab vs Delhi on Thursday evening.
The game between Punjab vs Delhi, which was eagerly awaited by fans, came to a halt after the floodlights failed during the 11th over of Punjab’s innings. As confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the outage affected one of the primary lighting towers, making it impossible for the game between Punjab vs Delhi to continue safely.
At the time of the disruption, Punjab had made a commanding start, reaching 122 runs with just one wicket down. Opener Priyansh Arya impressed with a fiery 70 from 34 deliveries before falling to a sharp delivery from T Natarajan. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran Singh remained at the crease on 50 from 28 balls, maintaining a fast scoring rate.
There was initial confusion among the spectators, as no immediate explanation was broadcast. Security personnel and stadium officials began guiding fans out of the venue in an orderly manner, avoiding any panic.
While the BCCI attributed the incident to technical difficulties, a separate report from PTI raised concerns that the blackout might have been triggered by regional security alerts, possibly linked to rising military tensions near the India-Pakistan border. The report speculated that precautionary measures may have caused power to be cut in the area.
Sports website Cricbuzz confirmed that all players, staff, and attendees were safely evacuated from the stadium. Team buses departed soon after the families of players were escorted out by security teams.
With the match officially abandoned, each team has been awarded one point. This development adds new complexity to the playoff race. Delhi Capitals, captained by Shreyas Iyer, now stand at 14 points from 12 matches, retaining their position in the top five. Punjab Kings, too, benefited from the extra point in their chase for a playoff berth.
Click Here To Know More About The Details of Punjab vs Delhi Match
This incident marks Delhi’s second match this season that couldn’t reach a result. Their earlier encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chandigarh was called off due to rain.
The BCCI extended apologies to fans who were affected by the incident and stated that any changes to the schedule or possible rescheduling would be announced later.