The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to resume the IPL 2025 this May after a ceasefire was declared between India and Pakistan. The truce, which took effect at 11:30 GMT on Saturday, has paved the way for efforts to recommence the season.
Efforts are being made by all ten IPL franchises to recall their overseas players and support staff who had exited India following the tournament’s brief suspension last week. The IPL could potentially restart as early as May 15, contingent on approval from the Indian government.
The tournament faced an unexpected halt after rising cross-border tensions led to the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala being abandoned after just 10.1 overs on May 8. Franchises are now faced with the task of bringing back overseas players who began returning home over the weekend.
Some franchises have asked players and staff to remain on standby for immediate travel back to India. Interestingly, one team even advised its coaching staff against leaving India as they were about to depart. The situation varies across teams—only two overseas players from Gujarat Titans, namely Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee, have left the country and the team is working to get them back.
Teams are hopeful about the return of international players if the IPL resumes in May. However, there is uncertainty beyond May 25, the scheduled date for the IPL 2025 final, due to players’ other commitments such as bilateral series and the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa on June 11.
Prior to the suspension, 57 matches had been played this season. The BCCI has yet to decide whether the abandoned match in Dharamsala will be replayed. To conclude the tournament, 12 league matches and four playoffs remain, and they might be held in southern cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Currently, seven teams are still vying for playoff positions, with CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals already out of the race.
Nagraj Gollapudi, the news editor at ESPNcricinfo, reports that the teams are making combined efforts to navigate these logistical challenges while hoping for a smooth resumption of the beloved IPL.
