Indian Premier League (IPL) halts competition as Pakistan tensions hit boiling point – betting markets will be hit hard

The Indian Premier League (IPL), the country’s top cricket tournament, has been put on hold as mounting tensions with Pakistan put people at risk. This comes as the Indian army claims it had “repulsed” drone attacks from Pakistan.

The tit-for-tat firing of weapons has resulted in an estimated “40-50 soldiers” from India being killed by retaliatory strikes. Pakistan had launched this attack after India shelled the country on Wednesday morning.

In a statement, the IPL said:

“The remainder of ongoing IPL 2025 suspended with immediate effect for one week.

“The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans.”

However, the pausing of the Indian Premier League will have a knock-on effect for the sportsbook business. The two countries’ love of cricket cannot be overstated, with the Pakistan Super League now moved to the United Arab Emirates for the remainder of the season.

In April, Betfair Exchange had its “biggest sports event of all time” with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs the Mumbai Indians. Betfair saw £218 million ($289 million) matched on the game, making it the “first time” the company has crossed that £200 million threshold.