Will Australian Players Return And Play IPL 2025? CA Issue Massive Statement

The BCCI, on Monday (May 12), confirmed that the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will restart from May 17 after the competition had to be temporarily suspended due to rising border tensions between India and Pakistan. 

The revised schedule is locked in, but there remains huge uncertainty over the availability of overseas players. While some overseas players have stayed back, a vast majority — including some big names — have already flown back home. Among those who have already made it back home are Australian players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood. 

It remains unclear if the players will be open to returning to India and finishing IPL 2025, but what’s also a major obstacle is the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, which is now scheduled to start just eight days after the final of IPL 2025.

CA confirmed that they will leave the decision of staying back or returning to the players, but will extend their full support to the individuals, irrespective of the decision they make.

"Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not," CA said in a statement.

"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.

"We are maintaining communication with the Australian Government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety."

Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Head are all part of Australia’s WTC Final squad that was announced earlier today. Punjab Kings’ Josh Inglis is also a part of the WTC Final squad. 

Considering Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are already eliminated, there’s a good chance that both Cummins and Head might opt to stay back home.