• Source:JND
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Indian Premier League: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden was one of the commentators during the Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 which got called off due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Even the tournament was put on hold for some time as there was no clarity about what could transpire next moment.

Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy, a couple who are stalwarts of their respective national Cricket teams, were present in Dharamsala have already shared their accounts of what happened that time. Former Australian swashbuckling batter Matthew Hayden also stated what was the feeling inside the commentators' camp.

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“I’d flown from Mumbai overnight to Delhi because there wasn’t a connecting flight with Punjab’s home ground (for that game) Dharamshala. Magnificent ground. But by the time I landed in Delhi, there was no airport open,” said Hayden on the All Over Bar The Cricket podcast.

“It was at the time that coincided with the incursion of Pakistan back into India and we were talking drones navigating across the skies, taking out ground to air missiles and it was just eerie. We had to take a car via Chandigarh up to Dharamshala. That’s a 11 and a half, 12-hour drive. By the time we reached the venue we were told the game was about to proceed.”

Lights Went Out

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The floodlights in the stadium were switched off at first. For fans, it was all dark as they thought that it could be a technical snag from the broadcasters' end. Adding to this, there were rumours of drones flying in the city, which added to all the confusion.

Hayden also confirmed that the commentators were informed in advance that the lights going out would not be a technical problem.

“But half an hour before we went on air we were given a security message that if the light towers were to go out, it’s not a technical issue. It’s actually a sign that the venue has been compromised and there will be an emergency evacuation response and we will proceed,” he said.

“I was mid-sentence with my usual garbage on air and the first light tower goes out so I’ve let the spectators and fans know that it has gone out. Then the second goes almost immediately. Next minute security came in like a blanket. Dropped my mic literally mid-sentence and we were ushered out of the ground,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.

“It’s (IPL) been a great survivor and it’s lasted incredible events historically for India. It got moved in the second year to South Africa due to elections. We had Covid and it seemed to survive that we moved to Dubai over to the middle east,” he said.