IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans hit with huge blow; key overseas player likely to miss playoffs

In a piece of unfortunate news for the Gujarat Titans franchise and its fans, star overseas batter Jos Buttler is likely to miss the playoffs for his side as England is scheduled to take on West Indies, starting on May 29 in the six-match white-ball series, concluding on Sunday, June 15.

However, Buttler and South African pacer Gerald Coetzee are all set to rejoin the Gujarat Titans camp on Wednesday, May 14, with the IPL 2025 all set to resume on May 17 with the contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders.

While only these two overseas players left the squad with IPL 2025 suspension due to India and Pakistan cross-border tensions, other players, namely Rashid Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Kagiso Rabada, and Karim Janat, are along with the rest of the squad in India. 

Interestingly, Rutherford has also been named in the West Indies ODI squad for the white-ball series in England, starting on May 29. On the other hand, the England and Wales Cricket Board is keen to support players in whatever decision they choose in terms of the IPL.

"We're keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players' return should they choose to go back," an ECB spokesperson said after the squad announcement.

The Titans have three more matches left in their league phase this season. They are currently topping the points table with 16 points ahead of the Bengaluru franchise, who are placed second in the standings. 

Titans will next lock horns with the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, May 18. Subsequently, they will take on the Lucknow Super Giants at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, May 22. In their last league game, they will go head-to-head with Chennai Super Kings at home on Sunday, May 25.

For the unversed, the Titans were the first franchise to resume their training once the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced on Saturday, May 10, which led to the resumption of the IPL 2025 season.

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