IPL 2025 | Injury woes, players leaving for national duty could spell trouble for RCB

It remains to be seen whether star opener Phil Salt returns for RCB.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Just when it seemed that all the stars had aligned for Royal Challengers Bengaluru to finally end a 17-year Indian Premier League trophy drought, Lady Fortuna is seemingly smiling in a different direction.

With the IPL set for a restart from May 17 after cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan eased, RCB, which has three games remaining, can seal playoffs qualification with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders this Saturday.

But injuries, coupled with players going away for national duty, have put a giant spanner in the works, for as many as five first-choice players could miss the business end of RCB’s campaign.

For a side that has already lost No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal to a hamstring injury, there are question marks over the fitness of star bowler Josh Hazlewood and captain Rajat Patidar.

Hazlewood skipped the win over Chennai Super Kings on May 3 because of a shoulder niggle, but the 34-year-old was named on Tuesday in Australia’s 15-man squad for World Test Championship final against South Africa from June 11.

Patidar, who was injured while fielding against CSK and briefly went off the field for treatment, did not bat in the practice session ahead of last Friday’s game against Lucknow Super Giants, which was eventually cancelled. With India set to tour England from mid-June for a five-Test series, and an India-A shadow tour also planned, Patidar’s health will be closely monitored.

The English duo of Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell left the country on Saturday, but with England set to commence its home ODI series against West Indies from May 29 — the same day the IPL playoffs begin — and the T20Is from June 6, it remains to be seen if the two return.

West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who starred in the narrow two-run win over CSK, is part of the roster that is set to face Ireland from May 21. West Indies did not qualify for the 2023 World Cup and these matches assume importance as the two-time champion looks to avoid a repeat.