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Cummins, Rabada To Exit IPL 2025? National Duty Clash Threatens Overseas Contingent

Soumyajit Dutta

Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada [Source: @IPL/X]Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada [Source: @IPL/X]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that IPL 2025 will resume on May 17 and conclude with the final on June 3, following a suspension due to escalating India-Pakistan border tensions. 

The remainder of the tournament will be played across six venues-Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad-with 17 matches scheduled, including two double-headers on Sundays. While this revised schedule brings relief to fans and franchises eager to see the tournament’s conclusion, it presents significant challenges for overseas players. 

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The extended IPL now clashes with several international commitments, notably the ODI series between England and West Indies running from May 29 to June 3, and the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa starting June 11 at Lord’s.

Key overseas players such as Romario Shepherd (RCB), Shamar Joseph (LSG), and Sherfane Rutherford (GT) are part of the West Indies ODI squad, which overlaps with the IPL playoffs. England’s squad announcement is pending, but likely affected players include Jos Buttler (GT), Phil Salt (RCB), Liam Livingstone (RCB), Will Jacks (MI), and Reece Topley (MI), depending on their teams’ progression.

The Australia-South Africa Jeopardy

Australia and South Africa’s WTC final involvement further complicates matters. Players like Pat Cummins and Travis Head (SRH), Mitchell Starc (DC), Josh Hazlewood (RCB), Marco Jansen (PBKS), and Kagiso Rabada (GT) face a tight turnaround between IPL commitments and international duties.

In a recent development, Cricket Australia announced their WTC final squad and has indicated flexibility, allowing players to decide their participation based on workload and priorities around IPL. 

"Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not. Team management will work through preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches," Cricket Australia stated.

Additionally, the India A tour of England, starting May 30, overlaps with IPL’s resumption, impacting fringe Indian players who could have featured in both events.

Franchises now face the logistical challenge of reassembling squads as many overseas players had already departed India during the suspension. Gujarat Titans, with most overseas players still in India, may have an advantage, while other teams await their stars’ return amid uncertain availability.