Will the Australian players return to action after the restart of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025? It remains a burning question for almost all the ten franchises and among the fans, who would want no less star power in the remaining 17 IPL 2025 matches after a one-week pause. The big question mark is because of the ensuing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 Final, where Australia will look to defend their mace against South Africa in a one-off Test at Lord’s from June 11-15.
CA on Australian players at IPL 2025
In an unprecedented move, the BCCI was forced to pause the IPL 2025. Now, with the ceasefire commitment between India and Pakistan, the Indian board seems confident enough in hosting the remaining 17 IPL 2025 matches. However, this has delayed the finish of the tournament from May 25 (originally) to June 3 (new IPL 2025 Final date). While the local Indian players are, of course, available, the second biggest contingent is of the Australian players at the IPL.
Now, the Cricket Australia (CA), has put forward a rather co-operative stance on their players’ availability. On Tuesday (May 13) morning, CA issued a statement addressing both the WTC preparations and security issues in India.
“Following the announcement that the IPL will resume on Saturday, Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not,” the statement said.
“Team management will work through preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches. We are maintaining communication with the Australian government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety.”
Australians in IPL 2025
- Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis
- Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Spencer Johnson
- Lucknow Super Giants: Mitch Marsh
- Punjab Kings: Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell (Ruled out), Mitch Owen (Yet to join), Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood, Tim David
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Adam Zampa (Ruled out)
This could mean that the likes of Mitchell Starc can play the second half of the IPL, something that didn’t look feasible earlier on. The tournament will resume with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 17 in Bengaluru. RCB’s Josh Hazlewood, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, is expected to be fit soon. However, he might not play the IPL season anymore.
Several Australian players in the IPL could potentially join the World Test Championship (WTC), including Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, and Josh Inglis. Cummins and Head play for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), franchise already out of playoff contention, while Inglis’s Punjab Kings, Starc’s Delhi Capitals, and Marcus Stoinis’s Delhi Capitals aren’t mentioned but Lucknow Super Giants remain in the running.
Other notable Australians in the IPL include Justin Langer (Lucknow coach), Brad Haddin (Ponting’s assistant and not directly involved with a team in IPL as per given data but had been in past with other teams in different roles), Mike Hussey (Chennai batting coach), and commentators Matthew Hayden and Mel Jones.
The post Cummins & Starc to play IPL 2025? Cricket Australia leaves ball in players’ court before WTC Final appeared first on Inside Sport India.