As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 gears up to resume following a brief suspension due to rising India-Pakistan tensions, Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy, wife of Delhi Capitals’ pacer Mitchell Starc, has revealed terrifying details from the night the PBKS vs DC match in Dharamsala was called off.
Though the BCCI cited floodlight failure as the official reason for suspension, Healy shared that the reality was far more serious, with missile strikes, military activity, and emergency evacuations unfolding near the stadium.
“We Were Just Crammed Into Vans” – Healy
Speaking on The Willow Talk Podcast, Healy described the tense moments when parts of the stadium went dark, and players and families were hastily escorted to safety.
“We were a large group of family and support staff… next minute, we were told to leave immediately. Everyone looked stressed, nobody had any idea what was happening.”
She recalled being rushed to a holding room, where players like Faf du Plessis were caught off guard — with Faf not even wearing shoes.
“Mitch said the town 60km away had just been hit by missiles. There was a complete blackout… the stadium had become a beacon.”
Soon after, everyone was quickly moved into vans and taken back to the hotel.
“Felt Like a Warzone Near the Border”
The panic didn’t end there. Healy said that after being moved from Dharamsala, the group headed southwest, closer to the India-Pakistan border.
“It was a bit terrifying. Mitch and I have played too much Call of Duty, and we started noticing surface-to-air missile systems in the towns we passed.”
Adding to the anxiety, fireworks unexpectedly went off in one of the villages — causing panic among players and families during a lunch break.
“We all froze. I just hoped it was a wedding and not something worse.”
IPL 2025 Set to Resume Post-Ceasefire
The IPL was suspended last week due to escalating border tensions. The situation has since de-escalated following a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. A special train was arranged to bring players to Delhi safely, with Indian players returning to their cities and overseas players flying home.
The tournament is set to resume this Saturday, with fans, players, and management hoping for a peaceful conclusion to what has already been a turbulent season.
Alyssa Healy’s candid account has cast new light on the real dangers that prompted the suspension — reminding everyone that in cricket, some battles are fought well beyond the pitch
Stay tuned for all the latest Cricket news, match highlights, player analysis, and viral moments!