Watch: Cricketers thank Indian Railways for emergency train from Dharamsala

The IPL 2025 season took a shocking turn on Thursday night as the game between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was called off midway due to floodlight failure and rising border tensions between India and Pakistan. 

 

With airports shut across the region and security concerns rising, the BCCI had to act fast to evacuate the players safely.

 

In coordination with Indian Railways, the board arranged a special Vande Bharat train from Pathankot to safely evacuate all players, support staff, commentators, and broadcast crew. The players were first transported by road to Pathankot, 85 km from the venue, before boarding the emergency train to Delhi. The move was praised across the cricketing fraternity.

 

The BCCI also dropped a video from the train ride on IPL’s official social media handles, thanking the Indian Railways for stepping up at such short notice.

 

“Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi. We deeply appreciate your swift response,” the BCCI caption read.

 

 

Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi.

We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽@AshwiniVaishnaw | @JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/tUwzc5nGWD

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 9, 2025

"Bahut achcha tha”: Kuldeep Yadav lauds BCCI's effort

 

In the shared footage, Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav expressed his gratitude towards both the BCCI and Indian Railways for the quick rescue mission.

 

“Jis tarah se manage kiya, woh bahut achcha tha. I want to say thank you to BCCI and Indian Railways,” Kuldeep said on camera during the train journey.

 

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Meanwhile, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla confirmed that players' safety was the board’s top priority.

 

“With rising threat levels and airports shut across the region, we are organising a special train from close to Dharamsala to bring everybody home safely. The match couldn’t continue tonight due to the situation,” he said on Thursday night.

 

Notably, BCCI on Friday. With still 16 matches to go, the BCCI are currently exploring possible venues and the schedule to fit the remaining matches.