The Indian Premier League 2025 is back in action as of Saturday (May 17), with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing off against Kolkata Knight Riders after a week-long break. But while fans are pumped for the business end of the season, there’s a twist—some players to miss IPL playoffs are already making headlines. Whether it’s travel decisions or clashing international duties, a few big names have decided to skip the final stretch.

The BCCI’s cool with teams bringing in replacements for players who will miss IPL 2025, but here’s the catch—those fill-ins won’t be eligible for retention in next year’s mega auction. So yeah, this adds a whole new layer of drama. Let’s run through the list of stars who won’t be around for the 2025 playoffs.

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Team-wise Players to Miss IPL Playoffs List

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi

Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi are the two players to miss the IPL playoffs for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to national duty. Bethell is part of the England squad for the limited-overs series against West Indies, while Ngidi is part of the South Africa setup for the WTC Final against Australia.

 

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With Phil Salt expected to return, he is likely to retain his spot as an opener in place of Jacob Bethell. Josh Hazlewood is also likely to be fit for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Thus, Lungi Ngidi’s departure won’t have an impact on RCB’s IPL playoff possibilities.

Punjab Kings – Josh Inglis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson

PBKS is among the teams hit hardest by the players who will miss IPL 2025, with several key names unavailable during the crucial playoff push. Australian player Josh Inglish and South African pacer Marco Jansen are players who will miss the IPL 2025 playoffs due to international commitments. Inglis will fly back to represent Australia in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, while Jansen will be part of the Proteas squad. Punjab Kings is yet to announce a replacement for both players.

They will also miss the services of Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson, who is ruled out of IPL 2025 due to an injury. However, the Kings have roped in countryman Kyle Jamieson as his replacement. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is yet to join the Punjab Kings side, but is expected to join the team in the next few days.

Kolkata Knight Riders – Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell

Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL playoff possibilities look very slim, but if they happen to qualify, they will miss two players. Moeen Ali is down with a viral infection, and Powell is nursing an injury. Thus, both players have decided to stay back home and not return to India.

Gujarat Titans – Jos Buttler and Kagiso Rabada

Buttler will miss the final stages of the Indian Premier League as he’s been named in the ODI squad for the series against West Indies. His absence will be a massive blow for the Titans as they heavily rely on their Top 3 batters, and the Englishman has been a consistent performer this season. However, the former IPL champions have roped in the service of Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis for the playoffs.

Related Article：Jos Buttler Not Playing IPL 2025 Playoffs：What’s GT’s Plan B？

Jos Buttler’s handbook on how to play yorkers 🤌

How good was he against Mitchell Starc in that over?

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They will also be without South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, who has been selected to represent South Africa in the World Test Championship Final. With Rabada not having played much for the Giants this season, his absence is unlikely to affect their campaign.

Delhi Capitals – Mitchell Starc, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Donovan Ferreira

Delhi Capitals have been badly affected as four of their players who will miss IPL 2025 put their playoff chances at stake. Mitchell Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Donovan Ferreira have opted out of the remainder of IPL 2025, citing personal reasons.

They will also be without the services of Tristan Stubbs, who’s part of the South Africa squad for the prestigious World Test Championship Final against Australia. The Capitals have signed Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for the remainder of IPL 2025 but the Bangladeshi pacer is expected to join the side after the T20I series against the United Arab Emirates.

Lucknow Super Giants – Aiden Markram and Shamar Joseph

Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL playoff possibilities are less, but they will look to do everything in their capacity to get into the Top 4. Aiden Markram will return home after the league stage due to national duty for South Africa.

Cricket West Indies has permitted Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd to complete their IPL 2025 season with Lucknow Super Giants before returning home for the white-ball series against England. However, they have decided against releasing Shamar Joseph for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Besides, LSG will also miss the services of Mayank Yadav, who is out for the remainder of the season due to an injury. New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke replaces him in the squad for the remaining games.

Mumbai Indians – Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch

Mumbai Indians players to miss IPL playoffs include Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton, who will be on international assignments with their respective nations. The teams are considering replacement options but have yet to finalise the players. They will also be without the services of Corbin Bosch, who has decided to stay back home and not return to India for the rest of the Indian Premier League 2025 season.

Why So Many Players to Miss IPL Playoffs？

Many overseas players to miss IPL playoffs due to the rescheduling of the final stages of the Indian Premier League 2025. The IPL 2025 playoffs will take place from Thursday, May 29, to Tuesday, June 3. Here is the complete schedule for IPL 2025 playoffs:

• Thursday, May 29 – Qualifier 1
• Friday, May 30 – Eliminator
• Sunday, June 1 – Qualifier 2
• Tuesday, June 3 – Final

What It All Means Moving Forward？

With the playoffs fast approaching, team depth and smart replacement picks will be more crucial than ever. From big names like Jos Buttler to key all-rounders like Moeen Ali, the list of players who will miss IPL 2025 keeps growing—and so does the pressure on the remaining squads. Whether it’s due to national duties, injuries, or personal reasons, the absence of these stars could end up being the difference between glory and heartbreak.