Operation Sindoor impact on IPL: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians may move from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings will most likely take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on 11 May and not at Dharamsala, it has been reported on Thursday. BCCI sources informed on Wednesday that the match will be shifted to Mumbai, but the Times of India has now claimed that the IPL game will be held in Ahmedabad.

Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians being shifted to Ahmedabad from Dharamsala has also been confirmed by Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel. “Yes, the match between MI and PBKS will now be played in Ahmedabad,” Patel told TOI.

MI vs PBKS shifted to Ahmedabad

MI were to leave for Dharamsala on Wednesday evening, but the team has stayed in Mumbai as a result of the Kangra airport shutting down after the Operation Sindoor. A number of airports in northern India have been shut down due to India’s attack on Pakistan and the possibility of retaliation.

The 8 May match between PBKS and Delhi Capitals (DC), however, will go ahead in Dharamsala.

The teams face the concern of leaving Dharamsala after the match, as both sides have IPL 2025 games on 11 May. In case the airport remains shut, the players will be forced to take road trips through hill regions in Himachal Pradesh.

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A team official told TOI that they are currently working on all possible travel plans, however, the focus is on keeping the players fresh before their next games.

“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,” the official said.