A hoax bomb threat delivered via email triggered a major security sweep at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Wednesday morning whilst India Under-19 were playing Australia Under-19.
The threat was received at around 11:00 am, warning that explosive devices had been planted across the stadium premises. Security personnel stationed at the world’s largest cricket venue acted immediately, alerting local police forces and initiating preliminary sweeps.
Specialist bomb disposal squads and canine units were deployed alongside officers from the Gujarat Police cyber cell to search the stands, pavilions, and key operational areas. Because the match involved youth teams, spectator attendance was sparse, preventing any panic or stampede during the ongoing security operations. Thorough searches revealed no explosive devices or suspicious objects, allowing law enforcement to confirm the email was a hoax.
To prevent unnecessary panic, match officials opted not to inform the players or coaching staff of the threat while the game was underway. India Under-19 went on to secure a decisive 10-wicket victory over Australia Under-19. The two teams were briefed on the situation after the match concluded and left the stadium complex safely under police escort at around 1:00 pm.
Anil Patel, Secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), confirmed that stadium management notified the local police station and cyber unit immediately upon reading the message. He noted that similar bomb hoaxes had been sent to the venue during the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup and subsequent Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. Although past threats turned out to be false alarms, authorities treated Wednesday’s incident with utmost seriousness and followed standard security protocols.
Local law enforcement revealed that the stadium was not the sole target. Similar threat emails were dispatched on the same morning to the High Court of Gujarat as well as several schools and colleges across Ahmedabad. Investigating officers suspect these coordinated hoaxes may be linked to an upcoming concert by popular artist Diljit Dosanjh, scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on 21 November. Security around the stadium complex has been bolstered as cyber crime units work to trace the origin of the emails.
