Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are set to miss the remainder of the IPL 2025, which has expressed disappointment and frustration among fans.

The hashtag criticising the players’ loyalty and calling for future IPL bans trended across platforms.

Meanwhile, others have defended cricketers’ personal decisions, pointing to growing regional tensions and the players’ international commitments.

Mitchell Starc had signed with Delhi Capitals (DC) landed in Sydney on Sunday with wife Alyssa Healy and refused to speak to the media. However, his manager told Australian media that Starc “might not return to the IPL if the tournament resumes.”

On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood has played a vital role for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this season with 18 wickets and several multiple match-winning performances, missed RCB’s final match before the suspension due to injury.

The IPL 2025 were suspended for seven days after last Thursday’s abandoned match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, which was affected by air raid warnings in nearby amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor.

Australian players were already concerned about playing at the northern venues.

Cricket Australia (CA) is understood to back its players’ decisions regarding participation. While discussions on a possible resumption are ongoing Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad have been shortlisted as potential host cities for the 16 remaining matches of the tournament.

With BCCI is yet to confirm a final deadline for deciding on the IPL’s return and officials knowledge the logistical and dioplomatic challenges involved. Several team officials indicated that the season might postponed to later in the year, especially as overseas players have already begun leaving India, with most expected to depart by the end of Saturday.

Apart from Starc and Hazlewood, other Australian cricketers Pat Cummins, and Travis Head might also opting out of the IPL 2025 tournament, to start preparations for the World Test Championship finals against South Africa starting on June 11.

On the other hand, most of the New Zealand players have already returned home, while Cricket South Africa is yet to take a call on extending NOC beyond the May 25 deadline.