GT, DC & RCB among teams facing potential threat of South Africa stars pulling out before IPL 2025 playoffs for WTC final

South Africa cricket team have been on a dream run in Tests and have all but confirmed their World Test Championship (WTC) final spot. Temba Bavuma and co. picked up back-to-back series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan to catapult themselves to the top of the WTC standings. They will now face Australia in Lord’s on June 11. But this could very well be bad news for the IPL teams – specifically GT, DC, RCB, MI and LSG.

Given that the IPL 2025 final is scheduled to be held on May 25, it leaves the South African team with just 15 days to prepare for the WTC final. At least seven members of the Proteas Test squad are a part of IPL 2025, with several players being an integral part of the franchises. Like the Australian cricketers, the Proteas could too pull out of the cash-rich league right before the playoffs start in order to prepare for the WTC final. The likes of Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, Tristian Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi are some of the prominent SA faces in IPL 2025 who are expected to be regulars for the teams until the playoffs.

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Double blow to Gujarat Titans (GT)

Gujarat Titans will suffer the biggest blow at the hands of South African cricketers, should they withdraw before the IPL 2025 playoffs. Both Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee are an instrumental part of GT’s bowling line-up after the duo were bagged by the team in IPL 2025 auction. Should the two pull out before the playoffs, it will leave GT in a lurch with Mohammed Siraj stranded all alone in the pace bowling line-up.

Stubbs can cost DC dearly

Tristian Stubbs, who emerged as a gem of a find for DC in IPL 2024, can cost the team dearly in IPL 2025. He was retained by the side ahead of the mega-auction and is arguably one of the side’s best finishers. However, he has also gone on to become a crucial part of South Africa’s Test XI. Hence, he too is expected to pull out of IPL 2025 playoffs if South Africa decide to call back its players.

RCB, PBKS, LSG to be affected

RCB will potentially lose Lungi Ngidi for IPL 2025 playoffs, leaving the team in a perilous position. Josh Hazlewood already poses a risk to the side as he too is expected to leave the team early to prepare for WTC final. Likewise, PBKS will be dealt with a blow in the form of Marco Jansen and LSG in the form of explosive hitter Aiden Markram.