The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended after 58 matches. On Friday, May 9, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the suspension of IPL 2025. The decision was made in light of ensuring the safety of players and all individuals involved with the tournament.
The 59th match, between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC), scheduled for Thursday, May 8, was impacted by technical issues and was halted midway. Subsequently, players, match officials, and spectators were safely evacuated from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala.
The disruption occurred following the Indian Armed Forces’ Operation Sindoor and amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, the BCCI has decided to pause IPL 2025 for a week. This marks the second time an IPL tournament has been suspended with immediate effect.
The IPL 2021 season was suspended midway due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the IPL was halted by the BCCI, led by president Sourav Ganguly, due to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in India. The virus had a significant impact on the IPL team camps, with several players testing positive.
The previous IPL season in 2020 had been fully shifted to the UAE, but in 2021, the BCCI hoped to bring the tournament back to India, scheduling it in select venues with strict bio-bubble protocols.
The BCCI implemented measures to ensure player safety during IPL 2021. This included regular COVID-19 testing for players, support staff, and other individuals involved in the tournament, such as broadcasters. Six venues across the country were chosen for the event, and teams were expected to travel infrequently during the league.
However, despite these precautions, the third wave of COVID-19 in India led to a surge in cases. The tournament began on April 9 and ran smoothly until the end of April. However, in the first week of May, a few players and support staff members tested positive for COVID-19, followed by multiple reports of infections within different teams.
As a result, the BCCI officially suspended the tournament on May 3, after 28 matches had been completed. The remaining games were rescheduled to take place in the UAE in September and October, with the second leg resuming on September 19. Ultimately, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the title, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final on October 15 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.