With the Indian Premier League set to resume over the weekend after a week-long suspension, the availability of overseas players has come under question. With the tournament now spilling over to the first week of June and England and West Indies players having international commitments, and Australia and South Africa set to feature in the World Test Championship final, not all players are expected to return to India to fulfil their IPL commitments. The Indian Express takes a look at how teams are placed in terms of their availability.
Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee, who were the only overseas players from GT to leave India after the IPL was suspended are set to rejoin the squad on Wednesday. But there is still some uncertainty around Buttler’s availability beyond the league phase as he has been included in England’s ODI squad for the matches against West Indies starting May 29. Similarly, Sherfane Rutherford who stayed back in India alongside Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan and Karim Janat is included in the West Indies squad. While he is already missing the ODIs against Ireland from May 21-25, the England series is of importance to West Indies and the hosts. Ranked No 8 and 9, they are fighting for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. While ECB issued NOCs for the duration of the IPL, they are yet to take a call on the revised schedule. With regards to Rabada, he is certain to feature till the league stage, but beyond that it is not clear if he would continue as he has been included in the South Africa squad for the WTC final which will assemble in England on May 31.
Apart from injuries to Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar, RCB are likely to be without their pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood. The Australian missed their previous fixture against Chennai Super Kings with a shoulder injury and with the WTC final around the corner, is unlikely to return for the remaining matches. Top-order batsman Jacob Bethel is also included in England ODI squad, which means his availability alongside West Indies’ Romario Shepard is also in doubt for the play-offs. With South Africa including Lungi Ngidi in the Test squad, they could be the team that is most affected.
Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals bowls in the IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. (Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
With the franchise still in the race for play-offs, they are also facing uncertainty around their lead pacer Mitchell Starc. The Australian has returned home and according to reports from Down Under, is unlikely to make a return to India. There are also doubts around opener Jake Fraser-McGurk’s return, but the franchise is understood to be in touch with the player. Rest of their overseas contingent are all expected to link-up with the franchise. Tristan Stubbs, part of the Test squad, may not be available post the league stages.
While all their overseas players are set to rejoin the franchise, they are unsure about two of their players post the league phase. In pole position to make the play-offs, they have two players — Will Jacks and Corbin Bosch who have international commitments. Their Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman is available for the remaining matches.
As things stand it is not clear whether the Australian pair of Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis will join back with the franchise. The franchise expects a clear picture to emerge by Wednesday as rest of their overseas players are all set to join the squad. With the franchise’s hopes of qualifying for the play-offs in their own hands, in case the two don’t join the squad, it could end up being a big miss as Marco Jansen’s participation for the play-offs is also under cloud of uncertainty.
Three of their Caribbean players — Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Rovman Powell — who have been camping in Dubai are set to join the squad alongside Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. However, the availability of Moeen Ali and Spencer Johnson is not clear as of Tuesday.
Chennai Super Kings
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Noor Ahmad, Dewald Brewis, Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway are all expected to join the squad with no clarity yet on Rachin Ravindra. With the franchise already out of the play-off reckoning and just two matches left, it has left it to head coach Stephen Fleming to take the call regarding other players. Jamie Overton, who is part of England ODI squad, may not return but all-rounder Sam Curran is expected to join the squad.
Pat Cummins of Sunrisers Hyderabad during an IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. (PHOTO: Sportzpics for IPL)
Though they are already out of play-offs, their captain Pat Cummins and opener Travis Head have agreed to join the squad alongside Heinrich Klaasen. The Lankan duo of Kamindu Mendis and Eshan Malinga are also in line to join the franchise.
(There is no clarity on Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals)
