IPL Match Moved from Dharamsala Due to Airport Closure: Logistical Nightmare for Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings

Dharamsala: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians has been unexpectedly shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. This change comes as a result of the closure of Dharamsala and nearby airports, creating a logistical nightmare for the teams involved.

Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com, stating, “Yes, the match between MI and PBKS will now be played in Ahmedabad.”

The closure forced the Mumbai Indians, who were scheduled to depart for Dharamsala on Wednesday evening, to remain in Mumbai. This change in plans has left Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings facing a challenging journey to their next match on May 11th.

Both teams are currently in Dharamsala and are set to play tonight. With the airport closures, they are exploring various options for transportation, including a lengthy road trip or a train journey.

A team official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, highlighted the importance of player comfort, explaining, “We need to keep players’ comfort in mind. We need to navigate the hilly area using the smaller buses. So there is a plan to possibly break the journey into two parts but nothing final yet. A call will be taken by the evening because there could be a possibility of both PBKS and DC starting their journey right after the match. There is a railway station some two hours from the ground, even that is being explored. But as I said, players’ comfort is of utmost importance. We can’t burn them out with travel.”