When the IPL hits "play" again, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru might be in for a reality check so brutal, even the Points Table might need a neck brace. So far, things have been cruising — DC is alive and kicking, RCB is deep in redemption mode — but there's no guarantee it’s going to stay that way.
After the recent India-Pakistan conflict, several Australian cricketers flew back home. And now, four of their top stars — Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head — might not return when the tournament resumes. You’d think it’s because of the border tensions, but nope, there’s a twist.
If that were the case, then why are guys like Tim David, Josh Inglis, and Marcus Stoinis — fellow Aussies — expected to return? So what's really going on?
It’s the World Test Championship Final — scheduled at Lord’s, June 11. Coming back to India before that, playing high-intensity IPL matches in the sweltering heat, and then switching rapidly to red-ball mode? That’s the perfect recipe for physical and mental burnout.
Still, Cricket Australia has left the decision to the players. They’ll back whatever the individuals choose — whether they return to India or not.
But here’s where it gets tricky:
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Josh Hazlewood is nursing an injury, and his return is not just unlikely — it’s nearly impossible. RCB is expected to make the playoffs, but without their bowling Brahmastra, their campaign might feel less like a title charge and more like a skydiving attempt without a parachute.
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Cummins and Head might also sit out the remainder of the season, especially since SRH is already out of contention.
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And if Starc doesn’t return, it’s a tsunami alert for Delhi Capitals. He’s been the anchor of their bowling attack, and his absence would deal a massive blow to Delhi’s playoff hopes.
The second half of the IPL is shaping up to be full of drama. Now the real question is — who’s coming back, who’s staying put, and who’s just going to send a “All the best, boys” text on WhatsApp and call it a day?
