IPL 2025 Update: Australian Players’ Participation in Doubt
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood may not return for IPL 2025, as they focus on the upcoming WTC final.
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The Gujarat Titans (GT) have gained a significant advantage in the IPL 2025 season by resuming their practice sessions ahead of other teams. This early preparation positions them as one of the front-runners as the season readies for its restart.
Ricky Ponting, who was en route to Australia, has decided to remain in India following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The former cricketer is reportedly working to bring overseas players back to India once the situation stabilizes, in an effort to resume IPL 2025 at the earliest.
Preity Zinta, owner of Punjab Kings (PBKS), expressed gratitude towards Indian Railways and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after her safe return following the suspension of the PBKS vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala due to security concerns.
The IPL 2025 season is expected to resume on May 16 or 17, with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) set to kick off the action. This was confirmed by reports from PTI.
A BCCI official confirmed that the IPL will restart next week, with matches scheduled across four venues. While the venues for qualifiers, eliminators, and finals are yet to be finalized, it is anticipated that the locations for these key stages will remain unchanged.
The Gujarat Titans have resumed their training sessions in Ahmedabad, staying ahead of the rest of the league. Official updates regarding the full resumption of the IPL are awaited, but GT’s preparations indicate they are ready for the upcoming matches.
With several overseas players returning to their home countries amid the situation in India, the IPL chairman emphasized that teams will not be compelled to bring them back for the remainder of the season. "It is a force majeure situation," said a CEO of an IPL franchise, reiterating that players' decisions will be respected.
Reports from PTI state that IPL teams have been instructed to contact their players by Tuesday, as the tournament is expected to resume soon, possibly by May 16 or 17.
There are ongoing discussions regarding the potential relocation of the IPL 2025 final. While no changes have been confirmed for the playoff venues, sources suggest that the final could be moved from Eden Gardens in Kolkata to Ahmedabad, depending on weather conditions.
