Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee, two of the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) best foreign players, are expected to return to the team on May 14 in preparation for the IPL 2025 season. After being suspended for a week owing to escalating tensions across the border between India and Pakistan, the Indian Premier League is set to resume on May 17.
On May 9, the IPL was put on hold after a significant security incident during the Delhi Capitals vs. Punjab Kings game in Dharamshala. For the reasons described above, the game had to be halted in the middle of the innings, thus the BCCI sent players and personnel back to Delhi on a special Vande Bharat train. Now that a ceasefire deal has been reached, the league is prepared to go on. On May 10, the Gujarat Titans were the first team to start training again, with a three-hour practice held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
GT to face DC on May 18
England batter Butter and South African speedster Coetzee were the only two overseas GT players to return home during the break. Their return on May 14 ensures that GT will have their complete overseas contingent available for the remainder of the season. Other foreign stars like Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Sherfane Rutherford, and Karim Janat remained in India during the suspension.
However, Sherfane Rutherford’s availability for the playoffs is uncertain, as he has been named in the West Indies squad for an ODI series in England from May 29 to June 3, dates that coincide with the IPL playoffs.
The Shubman Gill-led side currently tops the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points from 11 games and are in a strong position to secure a playoff berth. Sai Sudharsan (509 runs), Gill (508), and Buttler (500) are all in contention for the Orange Cap.
Meanwhile, pacer Prasidh Krishna leads the Purple Cap race with 20 wickets, closely followed by Mohammed Siraj (15) and Sai Kishore (14). They will resume their campaign on May 18 against Delhi Capitals in Delhi, followed by home fixtures against Lucknow Super Giants (May 22) and Chennai Super Kings (May 25) in Ahmedabad.