‘Had a touch with death, literally': Matthew Hayden opens up on ‘scary incident' in Dharamsala during India-Pakistan conflict
In the months since, there have been a few accounts from players, notably Australia women's captain Alyssa Healy, whose husband Mitchell Starc was playing for the Capitals, and now, former Australia batter Matthew Hayden has revealed how the entire incident unfolded for the commentators.
'I'd flown from Mumbai overnight to Delhi because there wasn't a connecting flight with Punjab's home ground (for that game) Dharamsala. 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 Dharamsala. 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.'
The first signs of something unusual unfolding were the lights at the stadium going off. While it had seemed like a technical issue on air, eventually the whole stadium went dark and reports emerged of the venue being evacuated due to threat of a drone strike. A number of major Indian cities had done blackout drills during that period. Hayden said that the commentators were told before the match that the lights going out will not be a technical issue. 'But half an hour before we went on air we were given a security message that if the light towers were to 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,' he said.
Hayden noted that the IPL has been a 'great survivor' considering the myriad events it has managed to see through over the course of its existence. 'It's 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
20 minutes ago
- News18
Joe Root Calls Out Mohammed Siraj's 'Fake' Angriness: 'I Can See Straight...'
Last Updated: Joe Root can see 'straight through' Mohammed Siraj 'fake angriness' but knows he's a bowler everyone would like on their team. Joe Root sees 'straight through' Mohammed Siraj. The England batting superstar on Sunday called Siraj a 'character, warrior' who players would love to have on their side, but also cheekily pointed to how the pacer has a 'fake angriness' to him, where he tries too hard to pump himself up artificially. Root's comments came after Siraj's excellent spell on the fourth day of the Oval Test. In an England innings where Root scored a magnificent 105, Siraj picked up two wickets and bowled the most overs — 26. Despite India's dire situation in the defense of 374 — England were 301/3 at one stage — and obvious fatigue having bowled in all five Tests, Siraj didn't let his energy down. England were reduced to 339/6 at early Stumps. 'He's a character, a warrior, he's a real warrior," Root said in the press conference after the day's play. 'He's someone that you want on your team; he's that kind of character. He gives everything for India, and credit to him for that, the way he approaches cricket. He's got this, like, fake angriness about him sometimes, which I can see straight through. He's actually a really nice lad, but he tries it incredibly hard. He's a very skillful player; there's a reason why he's got all those wickets." Root went on to call the Indian quick a 'great example' for youngsters. 'It's because of his work ethic and skill level. I enjoy playing against him. He's always got a big smile on his face, and he'll give everything for his team. So I guess you couldn't want anything more of that as fan watching, and he's a great example to any young players starting out." England need 35 runs on the final day with four wickets in hand and Root is confident. 'I was really frustrated because I missed out, it was really disappointing to not still be there tonight and get us over the line. But we are still in a really good position, a lot of batting left and the two guys out there are very capable of seeing us home. It has been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and we have the confidence in our dressing room," he said. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
28 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Is it too late to call him out of retirement?: Shashi Tharoor misses Virat Kohli as Fifth Test enters into fifth day
ANI Former India captain Virat Kohli As the Fifth Test enters its fifth day with England needing 35 runs with four wickets in hand after the fourth day was delayed by rain, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that he missed Virat Kohli during this series, "but never as much as in this Test match" and questioned "Is it too late to call him out of retirement?" Despite having England at 106/3 at one point while defending 374, India let the match slip away following a counter-attacking stand by Joe Root and Harry Brook as they scored centuries. With the action heading to day five with 35 runs and three/four wickets (depending on Chris Woakes' availability for batting), either India could walk out with their heads held high following a series loss or succumb to a 1-3 series loss, putting question marks over Shubman Gill's captaincy and Gautam Gambhir's reign as a head coach. Ahead of the England series, Virat had announced his retirement from Test cricket back in May, putting an end to what was a memorable 14-year career. Virat by far, was India's most successful captain in England, winning three matches here, most by any Indian captain, losing five and drawing one. At one point, Team India led the 2021 series in England by 2-1 under his leadership before a COVID outbreak postponed the fifth Test. The fifth Test was played under Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy next year, which India lost, drawing the series 2-2. Even in the series that India lost 4-1 under Virat in 2018, there were a couple of close matches (in Birmingham lost by 31 runs while chasing 194 and Southampton, lost by 60 runs while chasing 245) that India could have won, which could have given them a series win as well. Speaking on X, Tharoor said, "I've been missing @imVkohli a few times during this series, but never as much as in this Test match. His grit and intensity, his inspirational presence in the field, not to mention his abundant batting skills, might have led to a different outcome. Is it too late to call him out if retirement? Virat, the nation needs you! #INDvsENG." In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). Between 2016 to 2019, Virat had one of the strongest batting primes ever for a Test cricketer, piling up 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, with 16 centuries and 10 fifties in 69 innings and a best score of 254*. This also included seven double centuries, most by a captain in Test cricket history. However, the 2020s had not been great for the superstar batter, having made just 2,028 runs in 39 Tests at an underwhelming average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties to show in 69 innings. His numbers received a boost from a fine 2023, where he made 671 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.91, with two centuries and two fifties in 12 40 wins, 17 losses and 11 draws, Virat was India's most successful Test captain, having notable wins in South Africa, England and Australia. He won a series in Australia as well, becoming the first captain to do so in 2019. Across South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA), Virat won seven Tests, the most by any Indian skipper. Coming to the Test match, England ended the first session of day four at 164/3, needing 210 runs to win, with Harry Brook (38*) and Joe Root (23*) unbeaten. After England opted to bat first, they reduced India to 153/6. A 58-run partnership between Karun Nair (57 in 109 balls, with eight fours) and Washington Sundar (26 in 55 balls, with three fours) was the most meaningful part of the inning as India was bundled out for 224 runs. Apart from Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul, Josh Tongue (3/57) was also the second innings, four-fers from Siraj (4/83) and Prasidh Krishna (4/62) reduced England to 247, despite a 92-run opening stand between Zak Crawley (64 in 57 balls, with 14 fours) and Ben Duckett (43 in 38 balls, with five fours and two sixes). They led by 23 India's second innings, key contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118 in 164 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes), Akash Deep (66 in 94 balls, with 12 fours), Ravindra Jadeja (53 in 77 balls, with five fours) and Washington Sundar (53 in 46 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). They all took India to 396 runs, giving them a 373-run lead and setting a target of 374 runs for England to win the the end of day four's play, England was 339/6, with Jamie Overton (0*) and Jamie Smith (2*) unbeaten. England still need 35 runs to win, with uncertainty over Chris Woakes coming to bat or not after a shoulder injury. Wickets from Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna towards the end and a relentless spell from Mohammed Siraj towards the end of the session give India fans some hope that India will make the Three Lions toil really hard for these remaining runs.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
'India treats their players like superstars, while America sabotages theirs': GM Hans Niemann sparks new debate
File photo of USA's Hans Niemann. (Image: X) American Grandmaster (GM) Hans Niemann has ignited fresh controversy in the chess world with a striking statement on social media, contrasting India's growing support for chess talent with what he claims is a deeply flawed system in the United States. 'The Indian government and chess federation treats their players like superstars: supporting their development from an early age and rewarding them for their victories. While the American chess federation sabotages their own. The consequences will be very clear in 5–10 years,' 22-year-old Niemann wrote on X. His comment comes just days after a landmark achievement in Indian chess. How a Chess Game Trapped a King: Sadhguru on the Miracle of Mind Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis awarded Divya Deshmukh a Rs 3 crore cash prize at the Nagari Sanman Sohala ceremony in Nagpur. The 19-year-old became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup, defeating Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a dramatic final in Batumi, Georgia. Also present at the event was Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Shivajirao Kokate. Divya, beaming with pride, thanked CM Fadnavis and the people of Nagpur for their overwhelming support and recognition. Earlier in the week, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated both Divya and Humpy in New Delhi, calling their achievement a moment of national pride. Divya is now the 88th GM of India and only the fourth Indian woman to hold the prestigious title. Reflecting on her win, Divya told IANS: 'I think this tournament has been the biggest task of resilience... It definitely tested my physical and emotional stamina… always fighting to the end… that has helped me a lot.' The FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 not only marked India's dominance with an all-Indian final. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
