Cricket Australia Breaks Silence To Offer Major Update On Players’ Return To IPL 2025

With the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 returning on May 17 after a brief suspension due to the tense border situation between India and Pakistan, there have been many speculations about the players' availability for the remainder of the 18th edition of the event.

Most of the players have headed back to their respective countries, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has left the matter to the ten franchises to reassemble their foreign players. But with such a short time available and national assignments coming, it won’t be easy.

Cricket Australia throws its full support to players

The Cricket Australia, on the morning of May 13, has given their full support behind the players who have chosen not to head back to India for the rest of the season, which will begin on May 17, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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The event will restart after the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. Several players, coaches, and staff members returned home over the weekend, due to the unrest in the competition on May 08, where the BCCI stopped the game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings midway at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

With the league resuming, the franchises face a tough challenge to call their players back. It’s not a difficult decision to make for the players who will now need to consider whether to return for the final stretch of the league or stay focused on their national duties.

Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not. Team management will work through the preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches.” The CA expressed in an official statement.

Australia faces the IPL 2025 speed-breaker for WTC 2023-25 final preparation

The entire Australian Test squad for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 will meet in Scotland for the pre-tour camp before flying to London. But the rescheduled final on June 3 of the IPL 2025 has created a new issue for the red-ball players.

Most of the players will get just around a week to prepare for the red-ball assignment. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head are likely to be back in this country for the IPL. It won’t be a major effect for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who won’t be part of the playoffs, but that will be an issue for the Delhi Capitals.

The reports claimed that Josh Hazlewood has picked up a shoulder injury and will be out of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the IPL 2025. However, Australia’s medical side is confident of the pacer getting back to full fitness for the week.

IPL 2025 franchises to miss Australian players and coaches

Along with the players, the coaches involved in the season will also face an issue. Ricky Ponting requested that the players for the Punjab Kings stay back in India, and that will be a huge advantage for the franchise in starting their preparation.

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With the 13 group games remaining, Gujarat Titans (GT) are at the top of the points table with eight wins in 11 clashes at a net run rate of +0.793, followed by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the second position.

Three sides- Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad- are already out of the IPL 2025.