Foreign Player Availability in Doubt Ahead of IPL Playoffs

After a 9-day break, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to resume on May 17, but uncertainty looms over the availability of several overseas stars as national duties begin to take precedence ahead of the season's playoffs.

With the World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa scheduled to begin on June 11 at Lord’s, multiple players are expected to return home early to prepare. The IPL final is set for June 3, giving WTC-bound players just a week to switch formats and conditions—an increasingly tight turnaround.

South Africa has taken a firm stance, requiring its players to leave the IPL by May 26. The Proteas squad for the WTC Final has already been announced. Key players set to depart early include:

• Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans)

• Lungi Ngidi (RCB)

• Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals)

• Aiden Markram (LSG)

• Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians)

• Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings)

• Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Initially, Cricket South Africa had issued NOCs till May 25, and head coach Shukri Conrad has reinforced that deadline.

Australia’s stance has been more flexible. Pat Cummins and Travis Head, both representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, have committed to seeing out the IPL. However, others have opted out. Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) is nursing a workload concern, Josh Hazlewood (RCB) has an injury, and Josh Inglis (Punjab Kings) has ruled out returning. Additionally, Spencer Johnson (KKR) and Moeen Ali (England, CSK) have returned home, with no clear timeline for return.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has called up five IPL players for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. These include:

• Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans)

• Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians)

• Jacob Bethell (RCB)

• Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)

• Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings)

With Rajasthan and Chennai already eliminated from playoff contention, Archer and Overton's absences are less impactful. But Buttler, Jacks, and Bethell are part of teams still chasing playoff spots.

The ODI series vs West Indies begins on May 29, with the final ODI on June 3—the same day as the IPL final. This overlapping schedule makes it unlikely that players involved in that series will feature in the IPL playoffs.

Meanwhile, West Indies players like Romario Shepherd (RCB) and Sherfane Rutherford (Gujarat Titans) are also doubtful for the final stages of the IPL. Another West Indian, Shamar Joseph (LSG), may not be affected as LSG’s playoff chances are slim.

With the IPL playoffs beginning May 29, franchises face growing uncertainty over the availability of key foreign players—a concern that could significantly impact team strategies heading into the knockout stage.