Buttler, Jacks and Bethell Set to Miss IPL 2025 Playoffs Due to England ODI Duties

England players Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians), and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) are set to miss the IPL 2025 playoffs after being named in England’s ODI squad for a crucial home series against West Indies beginning May 29. The rescheduling of the IPL due to cross-border tensions means the playoffs now directly clash with the ODI series, placing centrally contracted players in a bind. While all three are expected to return to India briefly as the league resumes on May 17, Bethell will only be available for RCB’s next two fixtures before returning to the UK. Travel plans for Jacks and Buttler remain unconfirmed, but they are also expected to depart before the knockout stage. The ECB, which had earlier committed to full IPL availability for centrally contracted players under the original schedule, indicated that No Objection Certificates were granted based on those dates and would need reassessment in light of the new playoff timeline. Despite these withdrawals, RCB will still have English players Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt available for the full IPL run, as both were left out of England’s ODI squad. West Indies players Romario Shepherd (RCB) and Sherfane Rutherford (GT), who are also part of their national ODI squad, are likely to stay with their IPL franchises through the end of their respective campaigns. The absence of key English players during the playoffs could have a major impact on the fortunes of GT, MI, and RCB, all of whom are strong contenders for qualification. The IPL playoffs are scheduled for May 29 to June 3, overlapping directly with the England-West Indies ODI series, which has taken on added significance with both teams fighting for 2027 World Cup qualification.

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