By Ravi - May 14, 2025 11:58 AM
Indian Premier League Season 18 was stopped after tension between India and Pakistan. Now the remaining matches are going to start from May 17. Most of the foreign players had left India, now many players are returning to India for the tournament, while many players have refused to do so. Almost every team will have to bear the brunt of this, many of these teams are such that they were at the forefront of the playoff race only on the basis of the excellent performance of their foreign players.
Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, is at the top of the points table, in this the foreign players of the team also contributed significantly. It is difficult for former England captain Jos Buttler and South African fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada to return to India.
The South African Cricket Board has asked its players to return before May 26, although it is possible that players who are not part of the WTC final may get exemption from this. Only those players of England will be able to play who are not part of the ODI series against West Indies. Other foreign players of Gujarat are Rashid Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Karim Janat. They are ready to return to India.
Kolkata Knight Riders, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, will play against RCB on May 17. This is a do or die match for KKR, if Kolkata loses this match then it will be out of the playoff race. Most of the KKR players will reach Bengaluru between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
West Indies players Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell and team mentor Dwayne Bravo are in Dubai. Wicketkeeper batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz had returned to his country. South Africa's Anrich Nortje is in Maldives, he will also join KKR in Bengaluru.
Sunrisers Hyderabad management has made it clear that there is no information about the return of Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis and Wiaan Mulder at the moment. Captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head are part of the WTC final team, although some reports are claiming that they may return to India. However, their team is out of the playoff race, so their return or not will not affect their team.
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Punjab Kings has the highest number of Australian players. However, Cricket Australia has made it clear that it will support those players who want to return to India for IPL 2025. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, Punjab is a strong contender to join the playoff race. Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Umarzai and Mitchell Owen are returning to the team.
Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardy can also come to India. Jansen and Inglis are part of the WTC Final team starting on June 11. Head coach Ricky Ponting and assistant coaches Brad Haddin and James Hopes are in India, they even boarded the plane to return but they landed back after the India-Pakistan ceasefire.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has had a great performance so far in IPL 2025, his team is in the top 2 and on the verge of making it to the playoffs. However, Josh Hazlewood's return is difficult, he is not fully fit, although he will play in the World Test Championship final starting on June 11.
Top order batsman Jacob Bethell has also been included in England's ODI squad, which means it is difficult for him to play in the playoffs along with West Indies' Romario Shepherd. Lungi Ngidi is also part of the WTC final and Cricket South Africa has asked its players to assemble by May 26.
The remaining matches of Delhi Capitals are important, they have to win both the matches. Mitchell Starc's lethal bowling has won many close matches for Delhi this season. Starc's return to India is difficult. Opener Jake Fraser-McGurk's return is also doubtful. The rest of the foreign players are expected to join the franchise. Tristan Stubbs, who was part of the Test team, will not be available after the league stage matches.
Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch have been included in the final squad of the World Test Championship, who have been asked by South Africa to join their team by May 26. The team will leave for England on May 30. Will Jacks has international commitments. Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman is available for the remaining matches.
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