The Indian Premier League, or IPL 2025, is a competitive T20 cricket competition that is scheduled to resume after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire. Regarding the return of South African and Australian players to India to compete in the tournament’s remaining games, there is still much disagreement.

Having said that, Cricket Australia (CA) has offered the Australian players the option of returning for the event or not. Mitchell Johnson, the two-time world champion and former pacer for Australia, seemed to disagree, emphasising the consequences of the players’ choices and emphasising that in these situations, their safety should come first.

Cricket is still simply a game, even though it may cost millions of dollars these days. This has been quite clear after the IPL took a break this week.

Players may be reluctant to return to a place they fled because of safety concerns, which makes sense given the new military tensions between India and Pakistan following their recent conflict and the increased risk during the truce, which isn’t a guarantee for safety. “The weight of those decisions can be heavy,” Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian, despite Cricket Australia giving players the freedom to make their own decisions.

Prioritising safety above all else is crucial, but choosing not to play could result in disappointment or perhaps future financial and professional consequences. It just emphasises the need for prudence to hear about the difficulties encountered in those areas. Players are reportedly considering the wider ramifications of their choices as well as the possible risks. Instead of focussing solely on winning a tournament or committing to a franchise, the decision should ultimately be about what each person feels is safest and most appropriate,” Johnson added.

Safety and lives are the most crucial factors: Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson further reinforced his opinions by declaring that he would not play in or attend the tournament because he believes that the players’ lives and safety are more important than the lucrative pay cheques they earn. He further recommended that, in light of the present hostilities between the two nations, the tournaments be either ended or moved.

Strong security measures are necessary to keep the sport’s environment safe for all participants. Because of the unpredictable nature of circumstances, increased security measures may be necessary even during times of peace. The welfare of individuals attending or taking part in these activities must always come first. The choice of whether to return to India and complete the competition would be simple for me to make,” he said.

“I have to say no.” The most essential thing is not pay cheques, but lives and safety. The choice is personal. Even while the Pakistan Super League, which has also been paused, and the Indian Premier League exert a lot of pressure on people to return, nobody should feel forced to do so. Both tournaments ought to stop right now or think about moving, which would then become a major financial concern,” Johnson said.