- May 17, 2025
Just as the IPL 2025 season was beginning to gain some momentum after an extraordinary first season, reality hits like a perfect yorker—international commitments are here to impact team combinations. Due to national obligations, injuries, and sudden shake-ups, franchises are enjoying a game of Tetris with their overseas players. From English players departing for their ODI series to South African players preparing for the WTC final, the playoffs may look dissimilar to the league stage. So, who is staying, who is flying, and how will it impact your team’s chances of winning?
The South African Squeeze: When Test Cricket Calls
If there is one country this year that is causing IPL coaches to chew their fingernails, it is South Africa. Eight players will leave immediately after the league stage to prepare for the World Test Championship final vs Australia. This means all players for the IPL playoffs, including Rabada (GT), Jansen (PBKS), Ngidi (RCB), and others, are now out of playoff contention. For the Gujarat Titans, losing Rabada is tragic because it appears that Joss Buttler (England duty) is also out.
One exception? Gerald Coetzee. He wasn’t selected for the WTC final, but he will stay with the Titans, which is a little bit of relief for them. RCB will also miss Ngidi and potentially Josh Hazlewood, who is with Australia’s WTC squad despite a shoulder niggle. The fact that these exits are all stacked at the business end of the tournament makes it even more infuriating for the franchises, which were hoping that their overseas core would fire them to a title.
The English Exit: Butler, Bethell & Bairstow Bounce
There is no question that restrictions from South Africa are causing trouble at the current time, but England’s white-ball commitments were not far behind. With an ODI series against the West Indies starting from May 29—perfectly timed to coincide with the start of the IPL playoffs—players such as Joss Buttler (GT), Jacob Bethell (RCB), and Jonny Bairstow (MI) will all be departing. After May 23, RCB will be without Bethell, and GT has already been given notice that Buttler’s IPL time is over.
Some franchises are embracing the uncertainty of not even knowing who will be available for the IPL. Mumbai has Charith Asalanka, Richard Gleeson, and Bairstow as back-up options, although it will not be because Bairstow is less than 100% certain due to being involved with England on Covid/commercial duty. Uncertainty means that all playoff plans should probably need to have a backup and a backup plan.
Plug-and-Play: The Scramble for Last-Minute Fixes
When it comes to turmoil, some franchises are coping better than others. The Delhi Capitals, for example, will not be getting Mitchell Starc back (nor Donovan Ferreira, nor Jake Fraser-McGurk). In this case, Mustafizur Rahman is a stopgap, but only to the league stage. If DC were to make the top four (unlikely), then Tristan Stubbs would be gone as well.
Punjab Kings are scrambling too, Kyle Jamieson was drafted in for depth at the end, Mitchell Owen is already in to replace Maxwell. SRH will miss Vian Mulder, RR miss Geoffrey Archer, but LSG look like they will be incomparably more stable—all they will miss is maybe Aiden Markram if they qualify. On the other hand, a little stability also comes into play with some teams’ opening overseas players Romario Shepherd (RCB) and Sherfane Rutherford (GT) remaining, albeit temporarily.
Will the local stars step up? Or will the late edition heroes live the dream? One thing is for certain: the final stages of IPL 2025 are certain to show unpleasant surprises. What do you think – will your team survive the overseas exodus?
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