South Africa gave a big blow to IPL, 8 players will leave the playoffs and return to their country
IPL 2025, South Africa For WTC Final: IPL will start again from May 17. Where RCB has to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru and if Josh Hazlewood is not fully fit then Ngidi is likely to play.
The eight players who are part of the World Test Championship (WTC) final team announced for South Africa will leave for home by May 27, and thus they will miss the playoffs for IPL 2025. The players include Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians), and Tristan Stubbs and Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bangalore). These players will arrive in South Africa and then set off for England along with the team on May 30, and there, they will have to play against Zimbabwe in a training match from June 3.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has finalized discussions with the IPL about releasing these players early, as the WTC Final is crucial. The WTC Final will be against Australia at Lord's from June 11. Those players who are not included in the WTC Final will be kept back by the IPL. The IPL will pick up from May 17. While RCB is going to play against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Bengaluru, Ngidi is expected to take part in this match if Josh Hazlewood is short on full fitness.
SRH is the only team out of the seven teams to have South African players selected in the WTC final squad. Rabada played his last match for GT this season against MI on March 29, and they are just one step away from making it to the playoffs. MI will miss the South African players the most after the league stage. Rickelton is the second-highest run-scorer for MI with 336 runs in 12 innings, while Bosch has made important contributions many times.
Jansson's departure will also increase the concern of PBKS, who need to win two out of three matches to make it to the playoffs. Jansen has taken 11 wickets for PBKS and is their third-most successful bowler. While Stubbs has also done a good job as a finisher for DC and is the third-highest run-scorer for the team with 259 runs. For LSG, Markram has scored 348 runs in 11 innings and is their third-highest run-scorer. LSG are currently seventh in the table and now need to win all their matches. The league stage will end on May 27, while the playoffs will begin on May 29, with the final scheduled to be played on June 3.
