Australia’s leading cricketers have returned home amid growing concerns over the Indian Premier League (IPL), which remains suspended due to security issues and a disrupted schedule.
Mitchell Starc landed in Sydney on Sunday with his wife, Alyssa Healy. Although he avoided speaking to reporters, his manager later told local media that Starc may not rejoin the tournament if it resumes. Fellow Australian Marcus Stoinis also returned but gave no updates on the league’s future, only stating that all players were safe.
The IPL was paused for a week following the abandonment of a match in Dharamsala due to air raid alerts in nearby areas. Reports suggest several Australian players were already uneasy about travelling to northern India for matches.
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While talks are ongoing about resuming the league, The Age reports that Cricket Australia is allowing its players to decide individually whether to return. The board is said to have assured players that their decisions will not affect future IPL selection or ties with the Indian cricket board.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is monitoring the situation and has stated that government approval will be needed before the tournament restarts. No new date has been confirmed so far.
There is speculation that remaining matches may be moved to more secure southern cities like Chennai or Bengaluru. However, the international calendar could make it difficult to reschedule. Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head are expected to leave soon for the World Test Championship final against South Africa in London, followed by a Test series in the West Indies.