Initially slated to conclude on May 25, the IPL 2025 season was extended by a week due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins celebrate a wicket (Pic: AFP)
Five key Australian cricketers currently participating in IPL 2025 have been named in the national squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. Their inclusion all but rules them out of contention for the IPL play-offs and possibly the remainder of the tournament.
Initially slated to conclude on May 25, the IPL 2025 season was extended by a week due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. As per the revised schedule announced on Monday, the IPL final will now take place on June 3, just eight days before the WTC final, which begins on June 11 at Lord’s. This revised timeline has thrown the availability of several Australian stars into serious doubt.
Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, all part of IPL franchises, have been selected for the WTC final squad. Among them, Hazlewood has already been ruled out of the tournament’s remainder due to a shoulder injury.
The seasoned pacer, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has had an impactful season with 18 wickets in 10 matches. However, he missed RCB’s recent fixture against Chennai Super Kings on May 3, and his absence is a major setback for a team firmly in the play-off race.
Josh Inglis, who was brought into the Punjab Kings squad as a replacement for the injured Marcus Stoinis at a price of Rs 2.60 crore, has had limited impact with the bat. He has scored 92 runs in seven matches, with a highest of 30, but Punjab remain just one win away from sealing a top-four spot.
Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc, acquired for Rs 11.75 crore at last year’s mega auction, remains integral to their playoff push. Having taken 14 wickets in 12 matches, Starc has been a consistent performer, even though DC’s playoff chances hang in the balance.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, have already fallen out of playoff contention. Cummins has had a lackluster campaign, managing just nine wickets at an economy rate of 9.60. Travis Head, also part of SRH, has seen a dip in form, amassing 281 runs in 10 matches at an average of 28.1, far below his stellar 2024 season.
Several media reports indicated that most Australian players and support staff have begun departing India to return home over the weekend. Cricket Australia has also confirmed it will support players’ individual decisions on whether to rejoin their IPL teams or remain in Australia ahead of the WTC final.
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