‘Everyone was screaming…’: Frightened cheerleader shares experience after IPL 2025 match abandoned in Dharamsala

Cheerleader reacts to Dharamshala IPL chaos

The Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala was suspended even though there were no weather-related disruptions.

The broadcasters of IPL 2025 said ‘significant technical failure’ following the floodlight went out and the spectators were evacuated in the 10.1 over of Punjab Kings inninggs. PBKS were at 122/1, the game already started after the scheduled time due to the rain before the city went dark for sometime.

The teams and the spectators were evacuated from the stadium for security reasons. The hilltop stadium, which holds around 23,000 fans, was nearly 80 percent full when the evacuation took place.

“Yes, the match has been called off as a precautionary step, because there are some incidents which happened in Jammu (where India  intercepted missile strikes from Pakistan), I believe. That’s what we got to know, so we thought it’s wise to call off the game,” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told IANS from Dharamshala.

Amid all this, a video featuring a cheerleader present at the HPCA Stadium has gone viral. “The whole stadium, in the middle of the game, was evacuated. It was very scary. Everyone was screaming that there were bombs coming. It still is very scary. We want to really go out of Dharamsala. I hope IPL people are going to look after us. I don’t know why I’m not crying; maybe I’m still in shock on what is happening,” she said in the viral video on her way out of the ground.