New Delhi: The race for the IPL 2025 playoffs is quite intense, with fans busy drawing up various permutations and combinations through which their favourite franchise can qualify for the knockouts. RCB will face KKR on May 17th in a match that is certainly vital for the Bangalore-based franchise's playoff aspirations.
However, the Rajat Patidar-led side could potentially miss out on the presence of four overseas players, including their top wicket-taker Josh Hazlewood. While Australia will face South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final which starts from June 11, West Indies is scheduled to tour Ireland and England from May 21st to June 10th.
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There are also question marks over whether Australian pacer Mitchell Starc would be available for DC's remaining matches, which is definitely a major concern for the franchise considering his ability to emerge as a game-changer.
While players had been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with regard to featuring in the IPL till May 25, the revised schedule resulted in clashes with international fixtures. Concerns over the availability of overseas players extend across franchises and could well upset their momentum, considering the efforts involved in figuring out the perfect lineup.
Quiz: Who's that IPL player?
Without much ado, here's a look at the players who might not feature in the remaining IPL 2025 matches:
1) RCB: The Bangalore-based franchise is currently on the second spot in the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points from 11 matches. However, they are closely followed by Punjab Kings (15 points) and Mumbai Indians (14 points), who occupy the third and fourth spot respectively. Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are the four overseas players who may be unavailable for RCB. Shepherd and Bethell have been picked for the limited-overs matches between West Indies and England. Ngidi and Hazlewood may not feature due to the upcoming WTC final. Hazlewood is on the third spot in IPL 2025's leading wicket-takers' list, having registered 18 dismissals in 10 matches. His absence will definitely hurt RCB.
2) GT: The Shubman Gill-led side is currently on top of the IPL 2025 points table, with 16 points having recorded four wins in their last five matches. One of the key factors behind this success has been the form of English cricketer Jos Buttler who is among the top run-getters in IPL 2025, with 500 runs in 11 matches. However, Buttler could well be unavailable for the playoffs, considering his selection for England's ODI and T20I series against West Indies. Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) are other doubtful overseas names after being picked for their respective nations' fixtures.
3) MI: The Hardik Pandya-led franchise could miss out on the presence of South Africa's Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton as well as England's Will Jacks. While Bosch and Rickleton have been named in South Africa's squad for the WTC final, Jacks is a part of England's squad for their matches against West Indies.
4) PBKS and DC: Both the franchises are expected to miss out on the presence of two overseas players each. South Africa's Marco Jansen (PBKS) and Tristan Stubbs (DC), as well as Australia's Josh Inglis (PBKS) and Mitchell Starc (DC) have been picked for the WTC final. Jansen has been an effective performer for PBKS with his left-arm pace and ability to smash the ball down the order while Stubbs is a vital member of the DC batting lineup.
However, Starc's unavailability is expected to be the biggest blow, considering his ability to get the job done in the death overs and effectiveness as a wicket-taker. The Australian pacer had single-handedly helped KKR dominate proceedings in the IPL 2024 playoffs and could have done the same for the Delhi-based franchise.
DC are currently on the fifth position with 13 points and are set to face GT, MI as well as PBKS in the remaining matches. The absence of Stubbs and Starc could well come back to haunt them, considering the tough fixtures where every single bit would be of great importance. Even PBKS are in a must-win scenario and could definitely miss the presence of a game-changer like Josh Inglis.
5) LSG and KKR: Both LSG and KKR have a very slim chance of making it to the playoffs. While the Lucknow-based franchise has accumulated 10 points in 11 matches, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side possesses 11 points from 12 games. While KKR currently face no concerns about the availability of overseas players, the Rishabh Pant-led franchise could miss out on the presence of South Africa's Aiden Markram and West Indies' Shamar Joseph.
Markram has been picked in South Africa's squad for the WTC final and could well prove to be a crucial miss, considering his vast experience and quality performances for LSG in IPL 2025. Joseph has been picked for West Indies' limited overs matches against England.
6) RR, CSK and SRH: All three teams are out of contention for a spot in the playoffs, leaving a lot of flexibility with regard to the availability of overseas players. RR's Jofra Archer as well as CSK's Jamie Overton have been picked for the limited-overs matches between England and West Indies, making their availability an area of concern. However, fixtures involving these franchises are set to get over early, resulting in additional chances of overseas players featuring for their respective franchises.
SRH captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head are expected to return for the Hyderabad-based franchise's upcoming matches, which will certainly boost the team's aspirations of finishing off strongly.
However, the Rajat Patidar-led side could potentially miss out on the presence of four overseas players, including their top wicket-taker Josh Hazlewood. While Australia will face South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final which starts from June 11, West Indies is scheduled to tour Ireland and England from May 21st to June 10th.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
There are also question marks over whether Australian pacer Mitchell Starc would be available for DC's remaining matches, which is definitely a major concern for the franchise considering his ability to emerge as a game-changer.
While players had been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with regard to featuring in the IPL till May 25, the revised schedule resulted in clashes with international fixtures. Concerns over the availability of overseas players extend across franchises and could well upset their momentum, considering the efforts involved in figuring out the perfect lineup.
Quiz: Who's that IPL player?
Without much ado, here's a look at the players who might not feature in the remaining IPL 2025 matches:
1) RCB: The Bangalore-based franchise is currently on the second spot in the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points from 11 matches. However, they are closely followed by Punjab Kings (15 points) and Mumbai Indians (14 points), who occupy the third and fourth spot respectively. Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are the four overseas players who may be unavailable for RCB. Shepherd and Bethell have been picked for the limited-overs matches between West Indies and England. Ngidi and Hazlewood may not feature due to the upcoming WTC final. Hazlewood is on the third spot in IPL 2025's leading wicket-takers' list, having registered 18 dismissals in 10 matches. His absence will definitely hurt RCB.
2) GT: The Shubman Gill-led side is currently on top of the IPL 2025 points table, with 16 points having recorded four wins in their last five matches. One of the key factors behind this success has been the form of English cricketer Jos Buttler who is among the top run-getters in IPL 2025, with 500 runs in 11 matches. However, Buttler could well be unavailable for the playoffs, considering his selection for England's ODI and T20I series against West Indies. Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) are other doubtful overseas names after being picked for their respective nations' fixtures.
3) MI: The Hardik Pandya-led franchise could miss out on the presence of South Africa's Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton as well as England's Will Jacks. While Bosch and Rickleton have been named in South Africa's squad for the WTC final, Jacks is a part of England's squad for their matches against West Indies.
4) PBKS and DC: Both the franchises are expected to miss out on the presence of two overseas players each. South Africa's Marco Jansen (PBKS) and Tristan Stubbs (DC), as well as Australia's Josh Inglis (PBKS) and Mitchell Starc (DC) have been picked for the WTC final. Jansen has been an effective performer for PBKS with his left-arm pace and ability to smash the ball down the order while Stubbs is a vital member of the DC batting lineup.
However, Starc's unavailability is expected to be the biggest blow, considering his ability to get the job done in the death overs and effectiveness as a wicket-taker. The Australian pacer had single-handedly helped KKR dominate proceedings in the IPL 2024 playoffs and could have done the same for the Delhi-based franchise.
DC are currently on the fifth position with 13 points and are set to face GT, MI as well as PBKS in the remaining matches. The absence of Stubbs and Starc could well come back to haunt them, considering the tough fixtures where every single bit would be of great importance. Even PBKS are in a must-win scenario and could definitely miss the presence of a game-changer like Josh Inglis.
5) LSG and KKR: Both LSG and KKR have a very slim chance of making it to the playoffs. While the Lucknow-based franchise has accumulated 10 points in 11 matches, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side possesses 11 points from 12 games. While KKR currently face no concerns about the availability of overseas players, the Rishabh Pant-led franchise could miss out on the presence of South Africa's Aiden Markram and West Indies' Shamar Joseph.
Markram has been picked in South Africa's squad for the WTC final and could well prove to be a crucial miss, considering his vast experience and quality performances for LSG in IPL 2025. Joseph has been picked for West Indies' limited overs matches against England.
6) RR, CSK and SRH: All three teams are out of contention for a spot in the playoffs, leaving a lot of flexibility with regard to the availability of overseas players. RR's Jofra Archer as well as CSK's Jamie Overton have been picked for the limited-overs matches between England and West Indies, making their availability an area of concern. However, fixtures involving these franchises are set to get over early, resulting in additional chances of overseas players featuring for their respective franchises.
SRH captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head are expected to return for the Hyderabad-based franchise's upcoming matches, which will certainly boost the team's aspirations of finishing off strongly.
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