Most Overseas Players Expected to Come Back for IPL 2025
With IPL 2025 back on May 17 after a week-long break because of India-Pakistan tensions, most foreign players are likely to return, bringing back the competitive balance of the tournament. Some Australian and English players might not return because of national duties. Cricket Australia is permitting its players to make their own decision regarding going back, but the England and Wales Cricket Board has directed its players to head back by May 25 for the ODI series against the West Indies. Cricket South Africa has asked its players to return by May 26 to get set for the World Test Championship final against Australia. In spite of these issues, the comeback of most overseas stars is expected to revive fan interest as the league enters its final phases.
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The IPL 2025 will resume on May 17 and all the overseas players will return except a couple of Australians The tournament had been halted due to border tensions but with the situation calming down the league will restart as scheduled One of the returnees is confirmed in Pat Cummins who even though his team Sunrisers Hyderabad is no longer in the playoff hunt will still play Cummins is also preparing to captain Australia against England in the World Test Championship final at Lord's beginning June 11
As per Todd Greenberg the CEO of Cricket Australia they are in contact with all their players since some are taking final calls on whether to return or not Among the 16 Australian players who were part of the IPL initially some like Glenn Maxwell had to return due to injuries while others like Josh Hazlewood are still unsure Hazlewood who represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru is not likely to return as he is still recovering from his injury
Apart from Cummins Travis Head who also belongs to Sunrisers Hyderabad is likely to return too The team has no hope of entering the playoffs but they will play out their remaining two matches against Lucknow Super Giants on May 19 and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 25 After playing these two matches both players will return to Australia
For Gujarat Titans it seems brighter as their foreign players such as South African stars Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee will be with them for the rest of the league matches The team has a good possibility of reaching the play-offs though whether the players remain until the June 3 final is not certain England's former captain Jos Buttler who is in top five run-scorers this season will return soon
Other international players from franchises such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also likely to return except for a few Australians There is some doubt surrounding Mitchell Starc as he was said to be upset by a prolonged bus and train ride following a game ban between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals Jake Fraser-McGurk from Delhi Capitals appears to be most impacted and is less likely to return However other international players from DC such as Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs are set to continue with the tournament
Regarding Punjab Kings there is no confirmation yet regarding Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis as Inglis has been picked for the World Test Championship final and Stoinis' comeback is still on the cards Meanwhile most of Chennai Super Kings' overseas players such as Devon Conway are likely to return even though the team is out of playoff races Rachin Ravindra's comeback is not sure
Most of the foreign non-Australian players who were vacationing in nearby holiday spots such as Dubai Singapore and Maldives will probably return as the tournament resumes Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians are expecting their overseas players to return as well though no official statement from Mumbai has been made regarding this for strategic purposes
The matches to come will show how the teams adjust to the return of their foreign players as the IPL 2025 moves into its final stage
