The Delhi Capitals may suffer a major setback as their star overseas pacer Mitchell Starc is reportedly unlikely to return to India, even if the suspended IPL 2025 resumes later this month.
IPL Suspension Causes Starc’s Exit
The IPL 2025 season was officially suspended for a week on Friday amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions. Many foreign players, including several Australians, left India within 24 hours of the announcement. Starc, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 11.75 crore, flew back to Sydney along with his wife Alyssa Healy and declined to comment on his IPL future.
However, his manager informed Nine News Australia that Starc may choose not to return to India even if the IPL resumes, citing safety concerns and preparation for the World Test Championship (WTC) final starting June 11 at Lord’s.
Australian Players May Prioritize WTC Final
Starc is not alone in this stance. Fellow Australians Pat Cummins and Travis Head, whose team Sunrisers Hyderabad is already out of playoff contention, are also expected to remain in Australia and focus on red-ball preparations.
Cricket Australia is reportedly backing its players’ decisions, stating it will support anyone who opts out of the remainder of the IPL season.
Logistical Uncertainty for IPL Resumption
The BCCI is exploring a possible IPL restart around May 16, with a final on May 30. But returning overseas players poses a logistical challenge, especially with teams like New Zealand already having repatriated their players. Cricket South Africa is also reviewing whether their players can stay past the May 25 No-Objection Certificate (NOC) deadline.
For franchises like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the break has a silver lining. Injured captain Rajat Patidar, who was sidelined with a finger injury, now has time to recover before the playoffs or India A’s England tour.
As things stand, the uncertainty around overseas player availability continues to loom large, making it harder for teams to plan for the business end of IPL 2025.
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