With the IPL 2025 final now set for June 3, following a one-week suspension due to India-Pakistan border tensions, the tournament’s extension has triggered a crisis of availability for several franchises relying heavily on overseas talent. The new window, announced by the BCCI after a temporary ceasefire, clashes with international commitments—most notably, the World Test Championship (WTC) final and England’s ODI series against West Indies.
International calendar clashes with IPL business end
Generally, the Indian Premier League (IPL) clashes with no major international series. The federations, apart from Pakistan, of course, oversee the scheduling and allow their players to participate in the world’s richest T20 franchise tournament. IPL 2025 also had no problem until an unprecedented suspension occurred.
Australia and South Africa are set to contest the WTC Final at Lord’s from June 11–15. Key Australian players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head—all of whom were featuring in the IPL—are now in line for Test duty. It is hard for them to compromise on the WTC Final’s preparations since it will be the biggest Test of the year, and another opportunity to add another ICC title to their illustrious cabinet.
The same goes for South Africa too, who might not let the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee play. Tristan Stubbs is another key player. Meanwhile, England’s white-ball squad will face the West Indies in three ODIs (May 29, June 1, and June 3), directly overlapping with the IPL playoffs.
Franchises staring at key absentees
The uncertainty surrounding NOCs—initially granted only until May 25—means franchises like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Gujarat Titans (GT) could be hit the hardest. RCB, for instance, could lose nearly their entire overseas core ahead of the playoffs.
Overseas players who can miss IPL 2025
| Franchise | Likely Absentees | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| RCB | Hazlewood, Ngidi, Shepherd, Salt, Bethell, Livingstone | WTC prep, ENG vs WI ODIs |
| PBKS | Jansen, Inglis, Stoinis | WTC prep, travel restrictions |
| MI | Rickelton, Bosch | WTC prep (SA players) |
| GT | Jos Buttler, Rutherford, Rabada, Coetzee | ENG ODIs vs WI, WTC prep (SA players) |
| SRH | Cummins, Head | WTC prep |
| DC | Starc, Stubbs | WTC prep, AUS return undecided |
| KKR | Nortje | WTC prep |
Even as the IPL prepares to resume with RCB facing KKR in Bengaluru on May 17, franchises are working overtime to confirm the return of their overseas players. England’s ECB had allowed extended IPL stints before the auction—but with the new schedule clashing directly with the domestic season’s first series, a reversal seems likely. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) has left the ball in the players’ court. With playoff contenders potentially stripped of their match-winners, the final leg of IPL 2025 could see a weakened playing field.
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