New Delhi: 

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up to resume following a temporary suspension, Cricket Australia (CA) has made it clear that the decision to return lies solely with the players.

The governing body emphasised that it will fully support its players, regardless of whether they choose to head back to India or not, especially with the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final looming.

Several Australian stars at a crossroads:

The decision weighs heavily on some of Australia’s top cricketers. Players such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitch Starc, Josh Inglis, and Mitch Marsh are all involved in the IPL and are also expected to play in the WTC final.

Head and Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of playoff contention but others like Starc (Delhi Capitals), Inglis (Punjab Kings), and Marsh (Lucknow Super Giants) still have a chance to make it to the playoffs.

Josh Hazlewood, who represents RCB, is recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected to be fit in time for the WTC final.

Others affected:

Not just players, several Australian coaches and broadcasters are also impacted. Among them are Justin Langer (LSG head coach), Brad Haddin (PBKS assistant), Mike Hussey (CSK batting coach), and commentators like Matthew Hayden and Mel Jones. Reports suggest Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin chose to remain in India during the disruption.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which includes Australian David Warner is also looking to resume soon but it remains uncertain how many overseas players will return given the tight calendar.

As the IPL restarts under challenging circumstances Australian cricketers face a tricky balancing act between club commitments and national duties.

BCCI announced the revised IPL schedule on May 12 following a ceasefire agreement between both countries and reassurance from authorities. The league is set to resume on May 17 with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. The final is now scheduled for June 3, just eight days before Australia faces South Africa in the WTC final at Lord’s.

The IPL was brought to a standstill on May 9 after tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, including a deadly attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists.

The situation led to safety concerns with Australian players, coaches, and commentators among those who flew home. A particularly unsettling moment came during the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, where air-raid sirens disrupted the game mid-innings.

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