As BCCI is set to resume tournaments next week after a week of suspension due to the India-Pakistan conflict, questions are growing about whether royal challenger Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Josh Hazlewood will return for the rest of IPL 2025.
Josh Hazlewood missed the RCB’s final home game against the Chennai Super Kings on May 3rd due to shoulder issues. He was already unsure about the upcoming IPL 2025 clash with the Lucknow Super Giants on May 9, before the tournament was suspended.
Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to return to RCB as IPL 2025 is set up to resume
Even if IPL 2025 continued without interruption, Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood could have missed the rest of the season. Josh Hazlewood previously said he is managing fitness during the tournament following his recent recovery from both his calf injury and side stock.
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These injuries have locked out fast bowlers from several important international events earlier this year, including the border against India and part of the Gabascal Trophy 2024-25, the Test Series against Sri Lanka and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February to March.
CA is not worried about Josh Hazelewood’s fitness
Despite the latest set-off, ESPNCricinfo’s report revealed that Cricket Australia (CA) is not too worried about Hazelewood. The fast bowler is expected to still be named on the Australian test team. This will host a preparatory camp in the UK in early June before the ICC World Test Championship Final.
With IPL 2025 set up to restart, the big headache for BCCI is availability for players in Australia and South Africa. Top Australian players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head have yet to decide whether to return to India for the rest of the season.
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With the ICC World Test Championship Finals starting at Roads on June 11th, Australian players may choose to rest and prepare for a major conflict. Cummins and Head Play have almost come out of the IPL 2025 playoff race, with only three league games remaining.
Uncertainty about IPL 2025 availability for players in Australia and South Africa
So it seems unlikely that Cummins and Head will return. But things will be complicated for Mitchell Stark as the Delhi Capitals are still running for the playoffs. Starc faced a tired journey from Dharamsala to Delhi after the match was suspended on May 8 due to security reasons.
Most New Zealanders have already returned home, but Mitchell Santner and Bevon Jacobs, who play for the Mumbai Indians, have returned. Santner and Jacobs stayed after the team asked them, according to Chief Heath Mills of the New Zealand Cricketers Association.
Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa will decide on Sunday (May 11) whether players will be able to stay for the rest of IPL 2025. The current NOC is only valid until May 25th, and the CSA states that player safety will be a top priority. A warm-up game with Zimbabwe will be appearing in early June ahead of the WTC Finals, so it remains to be seen whether players will be able to extend their stay.