As military tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, several Australian cricketers and coaches participating in the IPL 2025 are reportedly planning their exit from the country. The various reports also suggest that many overseas players, especially Australians, are increasingly concerned about their safety and are looking for ways home.

A report by The Sydney Morning Herald stated that a number of player agents, who wished to remain anonymous, said Australian players are uneasy given the current situation, and anxiousness is heightened for those near sensitive border areas. Many are making plans to leave if needed.

IPL 2025 has some big-name Australian cricketers participating, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head. Also involved are established coaches Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin, who are both involved in the tournament. All of whom may be affected by these events.

Match Called Off as Security Concerns Disrupt IPL

The ongoing tensions had a direct impact on the tournament when Thursday's IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dharamsala was abandoned. Initially regarded as a possible technical problem with the floodlights, later released information suggests the match was abandoned as a precautionary measure following reports of missile interception by India in nearby Jammu.

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IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal said in a statement to PTI, “Yes, the game has been called off as a precautionary measure, because there are incidents that happened in Jammu... we thought it was prudent to call off the match.” However, Friday's match scheduled between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is still anticipated to take place. The two teams from the Dharamsala match are being moved by special train to Delhi from Pathankot, located around 85 kilometers away.

Ricky Ponting is beginning his journey with the Punjab Kings by forming a dedicated support staff team, including some familiar faces from his time at Delhi Capitals. With a new four-year contract, he’s setting the stage for a successful tenure.

Familiar faces join Ponting at Punjab Kings

Ricky Ponting has taken his first major step in creating his team at Punjab Kings, starting with the addition of James Hopes, the former Australian all-rounder. Hopes, who has worked closely with Ponting at Delhi Capitals, joins as the new fast-bowling coach. Hopes had been offered a contract extension with the Delhi franchise after Ponting’s exit, but he chose to follow his former captain to Punjab Kings. This move signifies the exit of Charl Langeveldt, the former South African pacer, who had been in charge of fast-bowling under Trevor Bayliss in the last two IPL seasons.

Hopes, known for his international career with 84 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia, previously played for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) during the inaugural IPL season in 2008. His familiarity with the IPL landscape and experience in the league will bring strategic insights to the team’s bowling lineup.

Key retentions and departures in the support staff

Alongside Hopes, Ponting has retained Brad Haddin as assistant coach, with responsibilities over batting and wicket-keeping. Haddin, initially brought in by Bayliss, had worked with Ponting in the past and has been a reliable presence for the team’s coaching framework. Sunil Joshi, former India spinner, also remains in his role as spin-bowling coach, adding continuity to the Punjab Kings’ coaching roster. Sanjay Bangar, however, has exited from his role as head of cricket development. His contract, initially set for three years, was terminated midway.

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Ponting has kept other essential staff, such as Adrian le Roux as strength and conditioning (S&C) coach and Andrew Leipus as team physio, to ensure continuity in the player fitness program. Now, his main priority is finalizing the player retention list, with discussions around key players like Arshdeep Singh and options for utilizing Right to Match (RTM) cards to secure talent at competitive prices.