IPL: All set for reboot, but teams to miss South African stars in play-offs

The change of dates in the second phase of IPL 2025, which will see the final being now held on 3 June instead of 25 May, has meant several teams missing out on a number of key overseas players in the play-off stages.

Most teams have, however, assembled at the respective venues for their next round of matches. To set the ball rolling, up next are Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on champions Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, 17 May.

The KKR, which has only a mathematical chance to make the play-offs, hit the ground running at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, 15 May — albeit without Rovman Powell and Moeen Ali.

‘’Rovman is undergoing a procedure, while Moeen and his family are down with a viral infection,’’ a KKR spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, there is confusion over the availability of experienced Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rehman of the Delhi Capitals. The IPL franchise, hit by the non-availability of left-arm swing king Mitchell Starc, who will not be returning for the second leg, had on Wednesday, 14 May, announced Fizz as a ‘temporary replacement’.

However, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official said later in the day that the BCCI did not seek a 'no objection' certificate for the release of the player, who would be anyway busy in international commitments against the UAE.

Eight South African players, who are part of their World Test Championship (WTC) final squad, will meanwhile have to return home by 27 May and hence will miss the play-offs if their teams make the cut.

They are: Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (both Mumbai Indians).

All of them are scheduled to leave for England to join the rest of their WTC final squad on 30 May, to prepare for a warm-up game against Zimbabwe from 3 June at Arundel.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has concluded negotiations with the IPL about the early release of these players for the WTC final, which will be played from 11 June at Lord’s against Australia. Other South African players not part of the WTC final will remain in the IPL till the end.

In another development, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kushal Mendis is expected to replace Jos Buttler in the Gujarat Titans squad for the play-offs. Mendis had been playing for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) until last week and had flown back home after its suspension, but a ESPNcricinfo report says he is now not inclined to travel to Pakistan again — preferring the IPL, where he will make his debut.   

The league phase of the IPL ends on 27 May, while play-offs begin on 29 May, with the final on 3 June.