IPL: MI match set to be shifted from Dharamshala due to airport closure

The closure of selected airports after the Indian armed forces' Operation Sindoor has cast a shadow on two of the upcoming IPL games in Dharamshala, the picturesque venue in Himachal Pradesh. Dharamshala, nestled at the foothills of the Dhauladhar range, is among the airports in northern and western India which have been shut down to commercial traffic beginning Wednesday.

The match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, scheduled on 11 May in Dharamshala, is now set to be shifted to Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with a formal announcement expected anytime soon. The other remaining fixture there between home team PBKS and Delhi Capitals, both of whom were already in town, has also come under a cloud but will eventually be held as per schedule on Thursday.

The IPL top brass was in a huddle throughout Wednesday to discuss contingency plans in case of any escalation post the Indian strike on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While there was some speculation if tomorrow’s game will also be rescheduled, a BCCI source confirmed that the SOP for the game is in progress, with both teams having gone through their pre-match press conferences.

Regarding the rest of the tournament which still has some way to go with the final scheduled in Kolkata on 25 May, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said they were ready to follow government guidelines in view of the ongoing tension across the LoC. ‘’The interest of the country comes first,’’ Dhumal said in an interview.

Cricketers' support

Meanwhile, the Indian cricketers’ community supported the Army action in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April. Taking to his X handle, senior paceman Mohammad Shami said: ‘’The Indian Armed Forces turned adversity into a powerful Fateh moment. Their courage and valour in the face of danger have made us all proud.’’

Former and current players including India coach Gautam Gambhir, Aakash Chopra, Harbahajan Singh and Jhulan Goswami also expressed solidarity with the army on social media.