Matthew Hayden Revisits IND-PAK Tension (Source: @shilpa_cn/x.com, @HaydosTweets/x.com)
The IPL 2025 will be remembered for many iconic moments, but the tournament took a terrifying turn when it was abruptly halted midway due to escalating India-Pakistan border tensions. As Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were locking horns at Dharamsala, the match was called off in the middle due to security concerns.
In a recent cricket podcast, Aussie legend Matthew Hayden shared a chilling moment from IPL 2025. He talked about the intense pressure the commentators felt amid the chaos.
Hayden Recalls IPL Chaos Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
IPL 2025 took an unprecedented turn when the high-octane league was abruptly paused mid-season due to escalating India-Pakistan border tensions, sparking a near-war-like atmosphere. In a group stage clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, the game was stopped mid-way in the 11th over.
In the history of the tournament, it faced a number of challenges initially and even recently during COVID, but this was the deadliest one. Speaking on the All Over Bar The Cricket Podcast, Aussie legend Matthew Hayden recalled the frightened moment.
“I’d flown from Mumbai overnight to Delhi because there wasn’t a connecting flight with Punjab’s home ground (for that game), Dharamsala. Magnificent ground. But by the time I landed in Delhi, there was no airport open. It was at the time that coincided with the incursion of Pakistan back into India and we were talking drones navigating across the skies, taking out ground to air missiles and it was just eerie. We had to take a car via Chandigarh up to Dharamsala. That’s a 11 and a half, 12-hour drive. By the time we reached the venue we were told the game was about to proceed,” he said.
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But The Fear Escalates Midway
Initially brushed off as a technical glitch, the real reason behind the sudden match halt was far more alarming. That was a security stunt to shield the stadium from a potential drone attack. In the podcast, Matthew Hayden revealed that commentators were secretly briefed in advance, knowing the dramatic interruption would unfold mid-game.
“But half an hour before we went on air we were given a security message that if the light towers were to go out, it’s not a technical issue. It’s actually a sign that the venue has been compromised and there will be an emergency evacuation response and we will proceed,” he said.
“I was mid-sentence with my usual garbage on air and the first light tower goes out, so I’ve let the spectators and fans know that it has gone out. Then the second goes almost immediately. Next minute, security came in like a blanket. Dropped my mic literally mid-sentence and we were ushered out of the ground,” he added.
After the sudden pause, the tournament halted for more than a week and later came with a revised schedule. This tense and terrifying moment has since become one of the most unforgettable chapters in IPL history.
