Shreyas Iyer issues explosive statement on overseas players' availability ahead of IPL 2025 restart

There is uncertainty over whether all foreign players will return in time for the restart of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which is set to begin on Saturday, May 17. Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer delivered a strong message regarding the availability of foreigners for the remaining matches.

The IPL 2025 season was suspended for a week after India-Pakistan tensions. During the break, many foreign players left the tournament to return home. While most have come back, some international stars will either miss the rest of the season entirely or be available for only part of the remaining matches.

Watch: Shreyas Iyer Issues Strong Statement on Overseas Players Ahead of IPL 2025 Restart

The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between South Africa and Australia is scheduled to take place on June 11. Several players from Australia and South Africa will be available for league stage matches only.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Amidst this uncertainty, Punjab Kings shared a video on X (formerly known as Twitter). Two individuals speculate about whether players like Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Hazlewood, and Marco Jansen will return for the second half of IPL 2025.

Shreyas Iyer then reminds them, “The guys who you are talking about are really talented. But you should remember this is the ‘Indian’ Premier League.”

Watch the video of the same posted by PBKS on X below:

Yatra pratibha avsara prapnotihi! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UBRjCs8Bua

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 17, 2025

Shreyas Iyer Among Top Indian Performers for PBKS in IPL 2025

Punjab Kings are third on the IPL 2025 table with seven wins and 15 points from 11 games. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have set the tone at the top of the order.

Arya has scored 347 runs in 11 games at a strike rate of nearly 193, including a century and a half-century. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran has scored 437 runs at an average close to 40 and a strike rate of 170, including four fifties.

Captain Shreyas Iyer has anchored the middle order, scoring 405 runs at an average of 50.62 and a strike rate near 181, notching four half-centuries.

On the bowling front, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been a standout performer with 16 wickets at an average of 18.18 and an economy of 8.00. Veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has also made an impact, claiming 14 wickets this season.

BCCI Confirms West Indies Players Available for Remainder of IPL 2025

The BCCI has directed IPL teams to release eight South African players involved in the WTC final before the playoffs that start May 29. South Africa’s squad will assemble in the UK on May 31. In the same statement, the BCCI confirmed that West Indies players can stay for the rest of the tournament.

The South Africans, including Tristan Stubbs (DC), Wiaan Mulder (SRH), Kagiso Rabada (GT), Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton (MI), Marco Jansen (PBKS), Lungi Ngidi (RCB), and Aiden Markram (LSG), won’t be available for play-offs. Their departure could hamper playoff-contending franchises except the SRH.

Also read: South Africa players' exit before IPL 2025 playoffs blocked by BCCI despite CSA lobbying