IPL 2025, overseas player availability tracker: Hazlewood to return, Starc to withdraw – reports

Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood will return for RCB, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

However, the report also says Mitchell Starc is unlikely to return for DC.

GT will be without Jos Buttler for the IPL playoffs, if they qualify – he will be on national duty with England.

They have signed Kusal Mendis as a replacement.

An ESPNcricinfo report suggests the eight South African players playing in the IPL who have been named in the WTC final squad will return home on May 27, missing the playoffs stage of the tournament.

The players include: Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder.

Delhi Capitals' Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk has reportedly pulled out of the IPL, while most of KKR's players including Quinton de Kock should return.

Cricinfo have reported that New Zealand quick Trent Boult is set to play for MI when the league returns.

With 18 wickets in 12 matches so far, Boult is the franchise's highest wicket-taker this season – and fourth overall.

Cricket South Africa has yet to confirm the return timeline for its IPL players or how long World Test Championship-bound players will remain in the tournament. Originally, all South African players had No Objection Certificates valid until May 25, aligning with the IPL’s initial final date. However, the tournament now ends on June 3, the same day South Africa begins a warm-up match against Zimbabwe. “Obviously, with May 26 being the latest for the Test guys to come back,” CSA’s Enoch Nkwe said.

Jos Buttler (GT), Jacob Bethell (RCB), and Will Jacks (MI) have been named in England’s ODI squad for the West Indies series starting May 29. However, with all three IPL teams currently in the top four and likely playoff contenders, their availability is uncertain. “No Objection Certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we’ll need to review any potential extensions,” an ECB spokesperson stated.

Three of the Punjab Kings players - Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mitchell Owen have confirmed they will fly back to India, while Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana of CSK will also be available. However, there is no update on whether Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway will return for CSK.

Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Rovman Powell, who were in Dubai after the IPL was suspended, will fly back to India for the restart. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Anrich Nortje are set to return as well, though an update on the availability of Moeen Ali and Spencer Johnson is awaited. 

Head and Cummins, who play for SRH in the IPL, will join the team ahead of resumption. According to News Corp, Cummins' manager Neil Maxwell said: "Pat has a responsibility as captain of the franchise and is looking at returning."

Gujarat Titans' Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee will rejoin the franchise on May 14 after having returned home following the IPL suspension. They were the only two players from the side who had flown back. 

According to the NZ Herald, the New Zealand Cricket has also left the decision to return to the IPL to their players. 

Cricket Australia put out a statement about the return of their players, saying: "

Hazlewood, who has 18 wickets in the tournament this season, is unlikely to return for the remainder of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Hazlewood did not play in RCB's last game before the IPL was put on hold.