Will IPL 2025 teams face travel woes as airports in border states closed following Operation Sindoor? – CricTracker
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India’s precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under “Operation Sindoor”, a retaliatory military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, have raised concerns over the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 schedule. Several airports in northern India, especially those in border states including IPL venues like Dharamshala and Chandigarh, have been temporarily shut, putting the upcoming fixtures for teams like Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in question.
Operation Sindoor was executed in the early hours of Wednesday, May 07, following last month’s terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Air Force, under the supervision of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, targeted nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoK. The military activity has led to immediate airspace restrictions in northern India, including temporary shutdowns of airports at Dharamshala, Amritsar, Jammu, Leh, and even partial disruption at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport – the busiest airport in the country.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has placed all flights in and out of these regions under review, due to passenger safety and operational security. National carrier Air India and other airlines have suspended services to affected cities, and drills have been announced nationwide to prepare for potential emergencies, including blackout drills timed at 7:30 PM, directly at the same time of the commencement of IPL’s evening games.
The incident has put pressure on the IPL fixtures scheduled for Dharamshala and Delhi, both of which are venues in the final leg of the league stage. PBKS are set to host DC on May 8 and MI on May 11 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. On 11th, DC are also scheduled to play Gujarat Titans (GT) in Delhi at night.
The Hardik Pandya-led team, having just finished a close game with GT at Wankhede on May 6, is now supposed to travel to Dharamshala to face the Punjab. However, with flights grounded and travel restrictions, MI has a logistical challenge to deal with.
While one possible alternative includes road travel or flying via Chandigarh, security restrictions may force the BCCI to consider shifting games back to Mullanpur, PBKS’s alternate home venue, or even Delhi, depending on feasibility.
With both DC and PBKS already in Dharamshala ahead of their May 8 clash, there is a chance that the match could go ahead as scheduled, under tight security. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings clash and the MI vs DC tie are also under question due to ongoing nationwide drills. As of now, no official statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding postponement has been released, but one is expected soon.
Meanwhile, PBKS, currently at 15 points, need at least two wins to ensure a playoff spot. DC, with 13 points, must win all their remaining games to qualify. MI, on 14 points with two games left, must win both games comfortably to secure a top-four finish.
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