Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have sparked controversy after deciding not to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 if the tournament resumes. While some fans criticized their choice, others defended it, citing the upcoming World Test Championship final. Mitchell, who was signed with Delhi Capitals, may not return to the IPL as confirmed by his manager. On the other hand, Josh, a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore, missed the final match before the suspension due to injury, which could keep him out for the rest of the season. The IPL was suspended for seven days following the abandoned match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The Australian players’ decisions were supported by Cricket Australia, stating that it should not impact future IPL selection or relations with the BCCI. Talks of resuming the tournament are ongoing, with Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad being considered as potential host cities for the remaining matches. The BCCI has not set a final deadline for the IPL’s return, with the possibility of postponing the season to later in the year as overseas players begin to leave India.
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