BCCI sends Indian and foreign players back home after IPL 2025 was suspended

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has directed all of the players and support staff to return home. This included Indian nationals and foreigners. Having suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for 1 week, the BCCI has decided that it’s the right call to send all those involved home for the time being.

Foreign players in IPL send back

Reports had come out, stating that several foreign players were feeling uneasy about playing cricket in India during such a time. The cricket boards of Australia, the West Indies and South Africa had expressed concerns for the safety of their players and were in constant contact with the BCCI.

“They will be heading back home; we will help with all the logistics, but every foreign player and members of the support staff will be headed back to their respective country. Depending on what is decided in the future, a call will be taken on them returning for the league. But as of now, they will be headed back home,” an IPL official told the Times of India.

As many as 71 foreign cricketers were playing in the IPL. And a few more were set to join, like Nandre Burger or Lhuan-dre Pretorius, before the league was suspended. Each team had at least 6 overseas players and several support staff in the form of coaches, physios, analysts and trainers as well.

Foreign cricketers in each IPL 2025 team

CSK, DC, GT, PBKS, RR: 7
KKR, MI, RCB: 8
LSG, SRH: 6

It’s not just the players going home. Commentators, broadcasters and the others involved in the coverage are going home as well. Official broadcaster of the IPL 2025, JioStar has also released a statement regarding the same.

“We will work with the BCCI to bring back the tournament at an appropriate time. JioStar will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the transition is managed in a seamless manner and everyone involved in the tournament broadcast returns home safely,” JioStar said.