A mid-tournament suspension is not without precedent in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Just four years ago, a COVID-19 outbreak within team bubbles brought the tournament to a screeching halt, prompting a four-month pause and an eventual relocation to the United Arab Emirates. This time, however, the 2.0 iteration of the competition bears little resemblance to that disrupted season.
It has been ten days since floodlights went off at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, amid the Indian Armed Forces executing Operation Sindoor.
Players dispersed — some flying home, others stealing a brief holiday — while uncertainty gripped the tournament. With border tensions now eased, the tournament is readying to resume. But not all players have returned, and among those who have, some will soon depart again, with international commitments beckoning.
Understandably, focus will be on player availabilities and momentum in the last phase of the competition, which will — for all practical purposes — commence on 18 May after the previous match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out.
Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian captain and JioStar expert, is of the opinion that the halt could potentially unsettle settled teams like RCB and Punjab Kings, by curbing their momentum. Using an analogy on Star Sports Press Room ahead of the resumption of TATA IPL 2025, he told The Quint about the Race to Playoffs:
We have often seen that someone who’s been batting well can suddenly lose their touch when they’re at the non-striker’s end and don’t get much of the strike. That little interruption in the middle of a game can make a difference. By the time they recover and get back to the pace at which they were winning, it might just come down a bit.Sunil Gavaskar
Conversely, Gavaskar believes that the break might be a reprieve for teams like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, who are competing for the playoff slots and had suffered defeats in their respective last fixtures.
Teams like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, whose momentum was halted, might use this break to reassess and figure out what needs to be done to improve. It’s going to be interesting. The next 8 to 10 days will be crucial. The team that starts quickly will have an advantage. At the beginning of the league, it’s more like a marathon with 14 matches. But now, with just 2-3 matches left, it’s a sprint to the finish line and to secure a top 2 or top 4 spot.Sunil Gavaskar
With the final phase set to ignite, here’s a closer look at where the six playoff contenders stand — each preparing for what Gavaskar fittingly describes as a “sprint to the finish line.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Position — 1st
Points — 17 (12 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants
Beyond the emotional swell of fan optimism, the stars may genuinely be aligning for a RCB special in IPL 2025, as they will be relatively unscathed by the suspension.
Though Romario Shepherd was included in West Indies’ series against Ireland and England, it has now been learned that Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be offering relaxation to IPL duo — with Gujarat Titans’ Sherfane Rutherford being the other beneficiary — who were supposed to leave for national duty.
Alongside Shepherd, Phil Salt will also be available for the entire duration, after not being selected in England’s ODI squad against West Indies, and so will be Liam Livingstone, who has not made it to the T20I squad either. Tim David and Nuwan Thushara will also be available for the playoffs. The only absentees will be Jacob Bethell, who is a part of the ODI squad against West Indies and will be departing after the next match, and Lungi Ngidi, who will not be available for playoffs as the South African players will be leaving on 26 May, to prepare for the World Test Championship final against Australia.
Josh Hazlewood is nursing an injury and is not currently in India, though The Sydney Morning Herald has reported he will be returning for the playoffs.
Players available for the entire tournament — Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Phil Salt, Nuwan Thushara, Liam Livingstone
Partially available players — Jacob Bethell, Lungi Ngidi
Player yet to confirm his availability — Josh Hazlewood
Temporary Replacements — None
Bottomline — With minimal overseas disruption and momentum on their side, RCB may find themselves unusually well-positioned to push deep into the tournament.
Gujarat Titans
Position — 2nd
Points — 16 (11 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings
Gujarat Titans have among the strongest Indian cores of any franchise and have managed to be in the top two despite fielding only three overseas players in most of their matches.
Yet, they will be considerably impacted by the departures, for the player they will be losing has been a crucial pillar to the team’s success — Jos Buttler, who has scored 500 runs at an astonishing average of 71.43.
A replacement has been announced in Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, who might have played a few decent knocks for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, but is yet to make his IPL debut.
Kagiso Rabada will also be missing the playoffs, should GT qualify. Although, he has only played GT’s first couple of matches, prior to his one-month suspension for doping violation. His South African teammate, Gerald Coetzee, will be available for the entire duration as he is not in South Africa’s WTC squad.
Though he is unlikely to feature, Gujarat have another Sri Lankan in Dasun Shanaka, who was signed as a replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips.
Players available for entire tournament — Sherfane Rutherford, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Karim Janat, Dasun Shanaka
Partially available players — Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada
Temporary Replacement — Kusal Mendis
Bottomline — Gujarat's Indian core continues to offer the team stability, though the team might struggle in Jos Buttler’s absence.
Punjab Kings
Position — 3rd
Points — 15 (11 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians
One of the two teams caught in the immediate crossfire of the IPL’s mid-season suspension, Punjab Kings have been operating with a skeletal overseas unit, and the uncertainty hasn’t quite eased yet.
Of their original overseas acquisitions, only Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett are currently with the team. However, the replacement pairing of Mitchell Owen and Kyle Jamieson, who have been signed to replace Glenn Maxwell and Lockie Ferguson respectively, will strengthen their squad.
The Australian trio of Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie have not arrived in Jaipur, where Punjab are currently stationed, and Jansen will be departing after the league phase.
Players available for entire tournament — Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett
Partially available players — Marco Jansen
Temporary Replacements — Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Owen
Players yet to confirm availability — Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis
Bottomline — Like GT, Punjab, too, have a strong Indian core. Yet, their success will hinge on the adaptability of the rejigged roster.
Mumbai Indians
Position — 4th
Points — 14 (12 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings
Mumbai Indians will also be impacted by the early departures, as their Protea pairing of Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch will be unavailable for the playoffs. Will Jacks will not be featuring either, as he will join England’s squad.
In their bid to secure the sixth title, Mumbai have been proactively signing temporary replacements. Jonny Bairstow, who scored a century for Punjab Kings last season, and Richard Gleeson, who had an impressive SA20 season, will be replacing Jacks and Rickelton respectively.
Bosch’s replacement is yet to be announced, whilst Trent Boult, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bevon Jacons, Reece Topley and Mitchell Santner will be available for the full duration.
Players available for entire tournament — Trent Boult, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bevon Jacons, Reece Topley, Mitchell Santner
Partially available players — Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch
Temporary Replacements — Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson
Bottomline — With a few key players unavailable for the playoffs, Mumbai will be hoping for a strong show from their temporary replacements
Delhi Capitals
Position — 5th
Points — 13 (11 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings
One could argue that no team has been more destabilised by the mid-tournament suspension than Delhi Capitals. As they prepare to resume their campaign on 18 May against Gujarat Titans, they will be left with only four overseas players at their disposal — Tristan Stubbs, Faf du Plessis, Dushmantha Chameera and Sediqullah Atal, who was signed as Harry Brook’s replacement.
The Australian pair of Mitchell Starc and Jake Fraser-McGurk have decided against returning, with the latter’s replacement, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, expected to link up with the team today. South African batter Donovan Ferreira will not be returning either, whilst Stubbs will be missing the playoffs, should DC reach that stage.
Players available for entire tournament — Sediqullah Atal, Faf du Plessis, Dushmantha Chameera
Partially available players — Tristan Stubbs
Players unavailable — Mitchell Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Temporary Replacement — Mustafizur Rahman
Bottomline — Most impacted by the tournament's suspension, DC will be hoping against hope that their new overseas acquisitions and Indian core pull off something spectacular.
Lucknow Super Giants
Position — 7th
Points — 10 (11 Matches)
Remaining Fixtures — Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants are clinging to playoff hopes by the narrowest of margins. But their path ahead is steep — with fixtures looming against the top two sides in the table, the odds are firmly stacked.
Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, David Miller and Matthew Breetzke will all be available for the entire duration, while Kiwi speedster Will O’Rourke has been signed to replace the injured Mayank Yadav. Aiden Markram, should LSG qualify for the playoffs, will be departing after the league stage.
Interestingly, although CWI has allowed Shepherd and Rutherford to miss national duty, Shamar Joseph has been asked to report, for the pacer is yet to make an appearance in IPL 2025.
Players available for entire tournament — Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, David Miller, Matthew Breetzke
Partially available players — Aiden Markram
Unavailable player — Shamar Joseph
Temporary Replacement — Will O’Rourke
Bottomline — Though not impacted by the suspension, LSG were already in a precarious position, with odds stacked against them.
(Catch Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings at 3:30 PM, followed by Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM tomorrow, May 18, as teams race to the TATA IPL play-offs — live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network)