IPL 2025: Overseas players who will not be part of remainder of tournament

Most overseas players are returning to play the remaining matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The tournament was suspended for a week on May 9 amid the growing tension between India and Pakistan. The 18th edition is set to resume on Saturday, May 17, as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Here is a look at which overseas players are returning and the ones who are not. We also discuss some of the replacements for the foreign players who are not coming back to India to finish their IPL 2025 commitments.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Gujarat Titans’ talismanic wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler will be returning to play the remaining league games. However, he will return to the United Kingdom ahead of the playoffs for England’s white-ball series against West Indies, starting May 30. Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, who was previously playing for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), will not return to Pakistan for the tournament’s closing stages.

Instead, he is reportedly set to join the Titans as Buttler’s replacement if they reach the playoff stages. The Titans are positioned at the top of the table and are one of the frontrunners to make the playoffs. Other overseas stars like Gerald Coetzee, Dasun Shanaka, and Kagiso Rabada will be available for the latter half of the league.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

RCB have received massive boosts as Romario Shepherd and Liam Livingstone have already rejoined the squad in India. There were previous reports of Josh Hazlewood missing the final phase of the tournament due to injury. However, fresh reports on Thursday, May 15, suggest that the Australian seamer is set to link up with RCB soon. Jacob Bethell and Phil Salt have also arrived in India. Lungi Ngidi is also available.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Mitchell Owen, who replaced the injured Glenn Maxwell earlier in the season, has arrived in India. Azmatullah Omarzai and Xavier Bartlett are also set to play PBKS’ remaining games. The franchise is awaiting clarity from Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis on their plans to return. South African all-rounder Marco Jansen is also returning to India.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mitchell Santner and Bevon Jacobs have started practising with the five-time champions. The South African duo of Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch, and England’s Will Jacks are expected to be available for the remaining games of the season. MI fans would be thrilled after Cricket South Africa (CSA) decided to change its decision of recalling its World Test Championship-bound players to the Rainbow Nation by May 26.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals will miss the services of Jake Fraser-McGurk. The 23-year-old’s coach, Shanon Young, recently said in an interview that the right-handed batter is still shaken after being part of the abandoned encounter between PBKS and DC in Dharamsala. DC have roped in Mustafizur Rahman as the Australian cricketer’s replacement. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) hasn’t been approached as yet for an NOC by either the player or by the IPL. Meanwhile, there is still no confirmation regarding Mitchell Starc, who is reportedly in line to skip the remainder of the tournament. Tristan Stubbs is also set to join the squad.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

KKR still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs. Moeen Ali has opted out of the remainder of the tournament due to personal reasons. Long-serving players – Andre Russell and Sunil Narine – are back in India. Quinton de Kock and Spencer Johnson’s returns were doubtful, but they have arrived in Bengaluru. Anrich Nortje will also be available for the remaining games. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the last of KKR’s confirmed overseas signings to reach Bengaluru. However, Rovman Powell, who is nursing an unspecified injury, might not be available.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Shamar Joseph, and Matthew Breetzke are the overseas players in LSG’s squad. All of them are expected to be available for the remainder of IPL 2025. However, there are concerns over Joseph’s availability as he is a part of West Indies’ squad for the three-match ODI series against England, which begins on May 29.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

SRH captain Pat Cummins and star batter Travis Head are expected to join the Orange Army soon. Heinrich Klaasen, Eshan Malinga, and Kamindu Mendis are also expected to be available. The former champions are already out of the playoff race, but they will look to finish their campaign on a strong note with wins in their three remaining games.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Jofra Archer will not be returning to play RR’s remaining games as he is recovering from a thumb injury he picked up during the game against KKR on May 4. Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana is also recovering from a niggle. His participation remains in doubt. Meanwhile, Shimron Hetmyer and Wanindu Hasaranga are set to link up with the side on Thursday. Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius are already in Jaipur. Fazalhaq Farooqi is also set to be available for the remainder of the season.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed in an interview that all overseas players will be available, apart from Sam Curran and Jamie Overton. So, the overseas stars available for CSK’s last two games are Devon Conway, Dewald Brevis, Rachin Ravindra, Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis, and Noor Ahmad. The five-time champions are placed at the bottom of the points table. They will look to win their last two fixtures and move up from the dreaded spot.