Horrific Night in Dharamsala-Alyssa Healy Recalls the Terror
Alyssa Healy, the captain of the Australian women's cricket team, described a terrifying experience from her trip to Dharamsala in the season of IPL 2025. When she was watching a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, the match was suddenly stopped when tensions between India and Pakistan were rising. She described hearing massive explosions outside the team hotel, which initially led her to worry about an attack. However, it was then explained that the noises were just firecrackers from a nearby village. It did not prevent the temporary stoppage of the tournament and increased security arrangements, however. Healy stressed the need for good communication and preparedness for this kind of situation
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Alyssa Healy, the captain of the Australian Women's cricket team, remembered the horrifying experience she underwent while in Dharamsala. The city near the India-Pakistan border became the site of a night of terror for her and other cricketers when the IPL match was interrupted owing to security reasons.
It all began when the Delhi Capitals versus Punjab Kings match was abruptly abandoned. While the BCCI had initially stated that the suspension was due to problems with floodlights, it was actually the increasing tension in the area. Given the closeness of Dharamsala to the border, there were safety fears. Things became worse when news broke that a town 60 kilometers from the stadium had been hit by a missile, further increasing the tension. In the wake of these events, a special train was organized to transport players to New Delhi.
Alyssa Healy, who happened to be in Dharamsala to accompany her husband Mitchell Starc, described how terrifying and dreamlike the whole night seemed. She stated how, without warning, some of the floodlights suddenly failed during the match. It was at that time that she, with a whole army of family members and support staff, were in the stands, waiting to receive further direction. Abruptly, the coordinator who took care of their group came, looking pale. Without any explicit reason, he ushered them with a sense of urgency, and that's when the confusion and fear crept in.
Alyssa remembered vividly how the drama played out as she walked into the dressing room. Faf du Plessis, one of the team's main players, wasn't even wearing shoes. When she asked her husband Mitchell what was going on, he informed her that the town nearby had just been struck by a missile. The players and families were then quickly ushered into a room where they waited, not knowing what was happening. The stadium had lost power and the players were in some sort of holding place, their faces pinched and anxious.
Healy explained it seemed like pure pandemonium. There was tension in the air as everybody was rushing to get out. They were loaded into vans afterward and taken rapidly back to the hotel. The feeling of panic was evident. The blacked-out stadium turned into a source of light in the midst of the darkness resulting from the missile strike. Alyssa further remembered observing radar-guided missile installations along their path. The installations were intended to destroy any aircraft that could be a threat. The ominous presence of such weapons made the journey more like it was in a warzone. It reminded her and Mitch of the video games they had played, where missile sites would appear often in computer-generated environments. But not this time, and the fear was anything but a game.
The car sped towards New Delhi, and with that, the ride brought them closer to the Pakistan border, further adding to the tension. Alyssa remembered feeling anxious and afraid while on the ride. Things became even more tense when they traveled through tiny villages. When in one such village, someone decided to launch fireworks in the daytime, the appearance of the fireworks amidst the tense scenario froze everyone in a state of shock. Alyssa couldn't but comment on how untimely the fireworks were, considering the security context. She was wishing that it was a wedding reception, but in the moment, it did not look like the last thing people wanted to witness.
It was with nerve-wracking moments that Alyssa comforted that she was fairly safe. They were near the danger area, but not actually in harm's way. The incident, nonetheless, left her with an indelible mark. The terrifying chain of events in Dharamsala was nothing less than a surreal nightmare that could have never been anticipated. Once things finally cooled down, she thought about how easily the situation can spiral out of control when there is high geopolitical tension, particularly in an area as close to the border. It was a night none of the participants would ever forget, filled with confusion, dread, and a heightened sense of nervousness.
Alyssa Healy’s experience gives us a glimpse into the unpredictable nature of life in high-pressure situations, especially when politics and sport collide. It also highlights how quickly ordinary events can turn into extraordinary ones, leaving lasting memories for all involved.
