New Delhi, May 15: England T20 stalwart Jos Buttler will leave for national duty after completing Gujarat Titans’ last three league engagements as the IPL play-offs are clashing with his country’s white ball series against the West Indies starting May 29.
Titans are poised to finish among the top two teams post league stages with 16 points from 11 games with three remaining games against Delhi Capitals (away, May 18), Lucknow Super Giants (May 22) and Chennai Super Kings (May 25). As per ESPNCricinfo report, Sri Lankan left-hander Kusal Mendis will replace Buttler during the play-off stages.
Among the other notable English players, Moeen Ali from Kolkata Knight Riders is also not coming back along with Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals), Sam Curran and Jamie Overton (both CSK).
“All KKR Players and Support Staff have arrived in Bangalore, except Rovman Powell and Moeen Ali. Both Powell and Ali couldn’t come back due to medical reasons. Rovman is undergoing a procedure, while Moeen and his family are down with a viral infection. We wish them good health and a quick recovery,” said KKR in a statement..
Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli, who had retired from Test cricket on May 12, joined the RCB camp on Thursday.England all-rounder Liam Livingstone is also rejoining RCB for the remainder of the tournament along with Aussie Tim David..
Mustafizur-DC deal stuck due to NOC issue
As reported by the PTI on Wednesday, Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman’s participation in the IPL remains doubtful even though Delhi Capitals signed him as Jake Fraser McGurk’s replacement. The left-arm pacer is yet to get a No Objection Certificate from Bangladesh Cricket Board and is currently in UAE to play five T20Is against UAE and Pakistan between May 17 to 30. The commitment to international cricket is sacrosanct and it will be interesting if BCB sanctions Mustafizur’s absence from international cricket. There is still some time and DC are hopeful that with help of the BCCI, a certain agreement could be reached.
Marco Jansen to go back after league stages
Meanwhile, South African seamer Marco Jansen will be rejoining Punjab Kings squad but will only play the remaining league matches before joining the national squad for the World Test Championship final preparation against Australia.All Proteas players have been asked by the CSA to report back by May 26, a day after the original date of the final. The IPL final has been shifted to June 3 after a week-long suspension due to a military showdown between India and Pakistan. With multiple international commitments looming large, the IPL play-offs are set to witness a string of high-profile absentees. From Jos Buttler’s timely departure to Moeen Ali’s unavailability for KKR and uncertainty surrounding Mustafizur Rahman, franchises are bracing for a reshuffle at a crucial juncture. While teams like Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain in strong contention with reinforcements in place, the absence of seasoned campaigners could tilt the balance in the knockouts. As national duty takes precedence, the upcoming fixtures promise both opportunity and unpredictability—setting the stage for a dramatic finish to the 2025 season.
The final leg of the IPL 2025 is shaping up to be a test of squad depth and adaptability, with several overseas stars making early exits due to national commitments or unforeseen circumstances. While teams like Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings will look to make the most of their remaining matches with available resources, the absence of key players such as Buttler, Moeen, and Jansen could significantly alter team dynamics. As franchises scramble to find suitable replacements and adjust strategies, the play-offs may well be decided not just by form and momentum, but also by how well teams navigate these last-minute setbacks. (PTI)
