The BCCI and franchisees have ramped up pressure on foreign boards to ensure that their players return for the Indian Premier League, which restarts after a brief halt, on May 17. The cash-rich league was suspended last week because of the India-Pakistan military conflict in the aftermath of the heinous Pahalgam terror attack on April 12.
Following the heightened tensions in the country, all overseas players were safely sent back home, but the ceasefire between the two countries has prompted the board to announce the resumption of the most popular cricket league.
While the majority of the players are likely to return for the restart, some might not just come back at all, and among the ones who are flying back, some others might not be available for the play-offs.
Most of the players had NOCs from their respective cricket boards only till May 25th. Now, the revised IPL schedule will clash with the World Test Championships final preparations for Australia and South Africa, whereas England will be hosting the West Indies in a white ball series from May 29th.
Let’s have a look at how teams are placed concerning their overseas players for the remaining league games.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Most of the KKR overseas players are expected to arrive in Bengaluru tonight or tomorrow morning as the team takes on RCB in the must-win match on May 17.
KKR’s West Indian players Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell and team mentor Dwayne Bravo have been in Dubai since they left India after the IPL was suspended.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, currently in Kabul, will join the West Indian contingent in Dubai and fly to India, while South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje will join the squad in Bengaluru from the Maldives.
All-rounder Moeen Ali and fast bowler Spencer Johnson are the farthest away – in the UK and Australia, respectively – and they too are expected to return.
There was no confirmation yet on the availability of Quinton de Kock for the remaining matches.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU
But RCB might not be as fortunate as KKR with regard to return of their overseas players. In a big setback to RCB, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will not return to India. He is, reports suggest, nursing an injury issue and RCB camp is preparing to deal with his absence.
RCB’s other overseas players like Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara are expected to be back in time for the match against KKR on coming Saturday, the first fixture of the revised IPL 2025 schedule.
Chasing their maiden IPL title, RCB are second in the points table and will be aiming to avoid the eliminator by being one of the top two teams in the league table.
PUNJAB KINGS
Three Punjab Kings overseas players – Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mitchell Owen – have confirmed to the franchise that they will return to play the remainder of the IPL matches.
There is no confirmation yet on whether their other overseas players – Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie – will rejoin the team.
Jansen and Inglis have been named in South Africa and Australia’s Test squads, respectively, for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s from June 11.
The franchise has asked its players and support staff to reassemble in the next two days.
MUMBAI INDIANS
Trent Boult has reportedly decided to return for the remaining matches. The 36-year-old speedster is the leading wicket-taker for MI and the joint-fourth in the tournament with 18 wickets at an economy rate of 8.49. MI, however, are still waiting on the availability of three of their first-choice overseas players – South African pair of Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch and England batting allrounder Will Jacks
Cricket South Africa has has given the NOCs only untill May 25. Discussions were on between CSA and BCCI to figure out the way forward.
Rickelton and Bosch are part of South Africa’s squad for the WTC final. Meanwhile, the ECB wants Jacks to be available for the ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on May 29.
GUJARAT TITANS
England batter Jos Buttler and South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee are set to rejoin the Gujarat Titans today for the resumption of the IPL. They were GT’s only overseas players to have left India after the IPL was suspended for a week on May 9. Their other overseas players – Rashid Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Kagiso Rabada and Karim Janat – had stayed with the rest of the squad in India.
Rutherford had been named in the West Indies ODI squad for the series in England and may not be available for the playoffs. Buttler too is named in the England Test squad, and he too can return before the play-offs.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
According to media reports, SRH capain Pat Cummins, has agreed to come back along with the explosive Australia and SRH opener Travis Head. With the Sunrisers are already out of the play-offs race, they have only two matches to play – against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on May 19 followed by the Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi on May 25. The two will return home after their last two league engagements.
DELHI CAPITALS
Delhi Capitals are in with a chance to qualify for the play-offs as they are currently placed fifth in the table. But they are in a dilemma over the return of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. With Capitals announcing Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, the only question remains on the availability of Starc.
The two Aussies were believed to be rattled by the turn of events, following the suspension of DC’s game against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala. However, other overseas players in the Delhi Capitals, like Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs, are expected to take part in the rest of the DC campaign. Capitals will be hosting table-toppers Gujarat Titans in the second match of the double header on Sunday.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings languish at the bottom of the points table and will be playing their remaining two matches only for academic interest. However, CSK have assurances from most of their overseas players, including Devon Conway, that they would return. The return of Rachin Ravindra, though, is not confirmed.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Another team out of the play-offs race, the Rajasthan Royals, will miss batter Shimron Hetmyer for their remaining two matches. He has flown back home, and reports suggest he is unlikely to join the team for two inconsequential matches. RR bowling coach Shane Bond too will not return, the prime reason being the same dead rubbers.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
All of the LSG overseas players are likely to return except Aiden Markram, who will be key for South Africa in the WTC Final clash against Australia in June. With 10 points in 11 matches, LSG still stand a chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
IPL 2025: As doubts linger over the availability of foreign players in the remainder of the matches, we look at the teamwise list of overseas players who are likely to return to India. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
