The Indian Premier League returns this weekend, with the 18th edition of the glamorous T20 tournament getting underway in Kolkata on Sunday.
Reigning champions the Kolkata Knight Riders will take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens for the tournament opener, the first of 70 group-stage matches, before the season finale on May 25.
There are 15 Australians participating in this year’s IPL, including eight that featured in the recent Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan.
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XAVIER BARTLETT
Punjab Kings — $146,000
Bartlett, who has yet to make his IPL debut, was snapped up by Punjab after a breakout 2023/24 summer, which included a Big Bash League title with the Brisbane Heat and impressive Australian debuts in ODIs and T20s.
However, the Queenslander proved costly during this summer’s BBL campaign, conceding 9.46 runs per over across the tournament.
Despite being signed for a bargain salary, he may struggle to crack into Punjab’s starting XI.
PAT CUMMINS
Sunrisers Hyderabad — $3.7 million
Cummins was one of only two Australians to be retained by their IPL franchise this season, returning to Hyderabad for another campaign with the Sunrisers.
The 31-year-old, who recently recovered from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the Champions Trophy, is the only international captain in this year’s tournament, having led the Sunrisers to last year’s final.
TIM DAVID
Royal Challengers Bengaluru — $547,000
After a successful three-year stint with the Mumbai Indians, David was snapped up by the Royal Challengers ahead of the 2025 IPL.
The pinch-hitter enjoyed a prolific campaign with the Hobart Hurricanes during this summer’s Big Bash League, cracking 254 runs at 42.33 with a strike rate of 177.62 to help the men in purple win their second title.
NATHAN ELLIS
Chennai Super Kings — $365,000
Having recently led the Hobart Hurricanes to a Big Bash League title, Ellis joins the Super Kings following a four-year stint with the Punjab Kings.
The Tasmanian is regarded as one of cricket’s most effective death bowlers, while he has taken 32 wickets at 16.90 in T20Is since his international debut in 2021.
JAKE FRASER-MCGURK
Delhi Capitals — $1.65 million
Fraser-McGurk returns to Delhi after a scintillating maiden IPL season with the Capitals in 2024, clobbering 330 runs in nine knocks with a strike rate of 234.04 as an injury replacement.
However, the Victorian has been struggling for runs over the last 12 months across all formats, missing selection for Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign.
AARON HARDIE
Punjab Kings — $228,000
Hardie has yet to make his IPL debut, while he may be required to carry drinks for the Kings this season pending injury.
Following a quiet home summer, the West Australian all-rounder missed selection for the recent Champions Trophy campaign, but he could balance out Punjab’s starting XI should he be required.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD
Royal Challengers Bengaluru — $2.29 million
Hazlewood was the most expensive purchase among Australians in this season’s IPL Auction, returning to the Royal Challengers after missing last year’s tournament.
During the 2022 IPL, the Bendemeer Bullet was Bengaluru’s most effective pace bowler, claiming 20 wickets at 18.85 across 12 matches.
He has been recovering from a hip issue, also suffering side and calf injuries during the home summer.
TRAVIS HEAD
Sunrisers Hyderabad — $1.2 million
Head was retained by the Sunrisers after he clobbered 567 runs at 40.50 with a strike rate of 191.55 last year.
The South Australian, who has developed into one of the sport’s most consistent multi-format players, formed a dangerous opening partnership alongside Abhishek Sharma in 2024, helping Hyderabad qualify for the season finale.
JOSH INGLIS
Punjab Kings — $475,000
Inglis’s stocks has risen considerably over the last 18 months, notching a maiden international in all three formats and earning a maiden IPL contract with Punjab.
The West Australian is one of three wicketkeepers in the squad, but coach Ricky Ponting might consider picking him as a specialist batter based on recent form — including a Test hundred against Sri Lanka and a Champions Trophy century against England.
SPENCER JOHNSON
Kolkata Knight Riders — $510,000
Johnson took a six-figure paycut ahead of this year’s IPL after his maiden season with the Gujarat Titans didn’t go according to plan.
The left-armed quick, who has essentially replaced Mitchell Starc in the Knight Riders squad, has offered a glimpse at his potential in 13 national appearances to date, but was dropped for Australia’s Champions Trophy semi-final against India.
MITCHELL MARSH
Lucknow Super Giants — $623,000
Marsh missed the Champions Trophy campaign due to a back injury, but the West Australian has been cleared to play in the IPL as a specialist batter.
The 33-year-old has not played any professional cricket since early January, while he was dropped from Australia’s Test side following a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign.
GLENN MAXWELL
Punjab Kings — $770,000
The Big Show, or the No Show — Maxwell has been one of the IPL’s most unpredictable characters, often fluctuating between an unstoppable match-winner and a disastrous flop.
Last season’s IPL went horribly for the Victorian, contributing just 52 runs across nine innings for the Royal Challengers, but he was named player of the Big Bash League this summer after a handful of dazzling performances for the Melbourne Stars, dragging them into the finals.
MITCHELL STARC
Delhi Capitals — $2.15 million
Starc became the highest-paid athlete in IPL history during the 2023 Auction, but the Australian took a hefty paycut ahead of this year’s campaign with the Capitals.
The left-armed quick, who missed the Champions Trophy with an ankle complaint, helped the Knight Riders win an IPL title last year with a player-of-the match performance in the final, while he remains one of the sport’s most damaging quicks with the new ball.
MARCUS STOINIS
Punjab Kings — $2 million
Stoinis, who recently retired from ODIs, will anchor Punjab’s middle order this season after coach Ricky Ponting forked out $2 million for the West Australian.
The 35-year-old cracked an unbeaten century for the Lucknow Super Giants last year, while he remains one of Australia’s most consistent T20 cricketers.
ADAM ZAMPA
Sunrisers Hyderabad — $440,000
Despite his success in canary yellow, Zampa has rarely been given opportunities in the IPL, with local spinners often squeezing him out of the starting XI.
The leggie could partner fellow tweaker Rahul Chahar at the Sunrisers this season when conditions favour spin.
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