Follow UsNuwan Thushara - Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB will be without their star pacer Josh Hazlewood, who is all but ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Not just that, there’s also a big chance that Lungi Ngidi might not play all the matches, which means an opportunity will come ripe for Nuwan Thushara.
The slingy Sri Lankan pacer could make his RCB debut, having already played seven games last season for MI, where he scalped eight wickets. Not only will RCB benefit from his new-ball bowling, but he can also fill the boots of Hazlewood at the death, where he’s picked up 17 wickets since 2024, averaging 25.9.
Sediqullah Atal - Delhi Capitals
DC finally announced Harry Brook’s replacement in Sediqullah Atal. The stylish left-handed opener from Afghanistan could be swung straight into DC’s setup in the absence of Tristan Stubbs. Atal has been the talk of the town since 2024, where he’s amassed 1260 runs, averaging 46.67.
Not just that, the left-hander can also strike the ball cleanly, with a strike rate of 140.3, with a boundary every 5.5 balls, evident by his 162 boundaries in 31 innings. With DC’s opening pair struggling, time to front-load that batting?
Mitchell Owen - Punjab Kings
Marco Jansen’s absence could open the door for Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen. Owen, who is yet to make his IPL debut, can be a perfect fit for the PBKS’ setup, with his all-round abilities. The BBL sensation, who smashed 452 runs in the 2024/25 season, can be the perfect foil for PBKS, considering he can bowl off-spin as well.
Also Read: Owen sets the third-fastest List A century in Australia record
Don’t be shocked if his selection becomes a reality.
Bevon-John Jacobs - Mumbai Indians
MI might miss the hard-hitting Will Jacks in their setup, and they couldn’t have asked for a better replacement than the 23-year-old South African-born Bevon-John Jacobs. The New Zealand youngster has smashed bowlers to smithereens over the past two years, with 381 runs at a strike rate of 143.8.
But the more exciting part about the Kiwi youngster is that he’s smashed 22 sixes in his last 16 innings. So, his batting could truly match the franchise’s brand of cricket.
Dasun Shanaka - Gujarat Titans
GT might be forced into a situation where they don’t have a choice but to hand an IPL 2025 debut to Dasun Shanaka. The former Sri Lankan skipper was roped in as a replacement for injured Glenn Phillips.
Whilst he has previous IPL experience, the all-rounder could fill Sherfane Rutherford’s shoes, with his ability to clear boundaries. Since 2024, Shanaka has a strike rate of 168.3 in the death overs, where he scores a boundary every 3.9 deliveries, with 21 sixes.