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MUMBAI: Most overseas players, barring a few Australians and Englishmen, are set to return for IPL 2025 when the tournament resumes on Saturday (May 17), following a week-long suspension due to cross border tensions between India and Pakistan.According to a source, among those who have confirmed their participation are Australian captain Pat Cummins, who is set to lead Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s from June 11, and opener Travis Head.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While the return of Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Cummins and Head is good news, the team is already out of the playoff race. SRH have only two matches remaining.Who’s that IPL player?Mumbai, Gujarat and Kolkata to be at full strengthThe teams currently best placed in terms of overseas player availability are Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, who are all set to be back at full strength.On Tuesday, MI had their first training session at the Wankhede Stadium since the BCCI announced the league’s resumption. captain Rohit Sharma attended the session alongwith overseas players Mitchell Santner, Bevon Jacobs, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman — all of whom had stayed back with the team during the break.The remaining overseas players, including England allrounder Will Jacks and wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, are expected to arrive from Thursday. MI restart their campaign against Delhi Capitals on May 21 which gives them ample time to reassemble their squad.In GT’s case, former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler and South African pacer Gerald Coetzee are expected to arrive on Wednesday, while Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Sherfane Rutherford had stayed back in India. The Titans are well-positioned to qualify for the playoffs.
Uncertainty for RR, RCB and PBKSIn a setback for Rajasthan Royals, their bowling coach Shane Bond is “highly unlikely” to return, TOI has learnt. The franchise also remains uncertain about the availability of England pacer Jofra Archer — selected for the England vs West Indies ODI series starting May 29 — and West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer.Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood (RCB), who is injured, and Mitchell Starc will both skip the remainder of the tournament.Punjab Kings are still unsure about the return of Australian players Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis while South African pace all-rounder Marco Jansen remains stationed in Dubai. Inglis has also been picked in Australia’s squad for the WTC final.
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Delhi in race to host playoff tiesMeanwhile, a reliable BCCI source told TOI that Delhi is also in contention to host the four IPL-2025 playoff matches, along with Ahmedabad — the likely venue for the final — and Mumbai.“The final was moved out of Kolkata due to forecast of heavy rain around June 3, the scheduled date of the final. Weather forecasts for Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi are currently clear,” the source added.
