Mitchell Starc And Josh Hazlewood Ditch IPL 2025 Resumption!! Report Drops Bombshell

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declared the suspension of the IPL 2025 due to the tense border situation between the two neighbours, India and Pakistan, the concern was around the availability of the foreign players once the event restarted.

Most players returned home after the clash between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala was suspended due to security reasons on May 08.

A few players, including Kagiso Rabada and Sherfane Rutherford, have stayed back and have started their practice with the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the IPL 2025 restart

On May 11, the Australian left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc, landed at the Sydney airport with his wife, Alyssa Healy. Even though the bowler didn’t respond to the reports, the pacer’s manager informed that the veteran might not go back to the league once it resumes.

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The IPL governing council and the board members met in the evening to discuss the potential start of the event, and that could be as early as this week if the ceasefire holds its place.

Even if that happens, most of the Australian players are not expected to return to India for the multi-million dollar contract. On the other hand, the premier Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer, Josh Hazlewood, is expected to be out of the competition with a shoulder injury.

There won’t be many conversations around Pat Cummins and Travis Head, whose franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is already out of the league. However, the biggest development will be around the Punjab Kings (PBKS), most of whose overseas players are from Australia.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood’s performance in IPL 2025

Hazlewood has been phenomenal for Bengaluru this year in different situations of the game. He is currently the third leading wicket-taker of the IPL 2025 with 18 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 17.27 and a strike rate of 12.27.

The lanky pacer has carried an economy rate of 8.44, with one four-wicket haul and the best bowling figure of 4/33 in an innings. With his excellent over against the Rajasthan Royals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the New South Wales pacer won one game on his own for the Bengaluru side.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has been on and off this year in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals. However, he is the franchise’s leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps in 11 innings at an average of 27.78 and a strike rate of 16.28 with an economy rate of 10.23.

In Starc’s absence, the focus for the Capitals will be on Dushmantha Chameera and the Indian pacers, who will need to stand on their feet to shoulder the responsibility.

Ricky Ponting and the Australian players for PBKS stay in India

A few reports have claimed that the Punjab Kings’ head coach, Ricky Ponting, after reaching Delhi, stayed in the country with the Australian players, as he also spoke with them about not taking the flight back home for a week.

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That will be a huge bonus for the side if they have all their overseas players available in the side. Marco Jansen, however, could miss the playoffs due to the WTC 2023-25 final against Australia at Lord’s.

The BCCI is likely to announce the rescheduled dates of the IPL 2025 in a few days, with the likely starting game between Lucknow and Bengaluru.