Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Australia to decide stars' IPL 2027 participation after India tour
Australia's cricket coach, Andrew McDonald, says some of the country's best players might not play in the Indian Premier League, or IPL, in 2027.
The IPL is a popular cricket tournament where players earn a lot of money.
Australia has a very busy schedule, with 20 Test matches and 14 white-ball matches over the next 12 months.
If players take part in everything, they could get very tired or injured.
McDonald especially wants fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins to rest their bodies.
Australia has important matches coming up, such as the Ashes against England, a possible World Test Championship final, and a World Cup.
McDonald says the team will decide whether players can join the IPL after Australia plays five Tests in India.
In 2023, some of the same players skipped the IPL and then helped Australia win the World Cup.
McDonald says he tries to balance playing for the national team with franchise cricket.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald says a call on how many star players can feature in IPL 2027 will be made after the five-Test tour of India that directly precedes the tournament.
Australia face 20 Tests and 14 white-ball matches over the next 12 months, including the away Ashes, a potential World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup.
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Cameron Green are among the players who could skip IPL 2027 to stay fresh and fit.
McDonald says the IPL is part of players' management plans and has performance benefits, but fast bowlers must be allowed to reset their bodies.
In 2023, Cummins, Starc and Head missed the IPL and helped Australia win the WTC Final, Ashes and 50-over World Cup, a precedent that may influence decisions.
- Who
- Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and senior players Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Cameron Green
- What
- A decision on whether Australia's star players can participate in IPL 2027, with several possibly skipping it to manage workload
- When
- Decision expected after the five-Test tour of India, ahead of IPL 2027, within a 12-month window of 20 Tests and 14 white-ball matches
- Where
- Australia, with tours of India, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Bangladesh; the IPL is played in India
- Why
- To keep fast bowlers fresh and fit for priority international cricket including the away Ashes, a potential WTC Final and the ODI World Cup
National duty priority
Franchise cricket priority
Player availability for IPL 2027
National duty priority
Key Australian players should skip the IPL to rest and stay fit for priority international fixtures such as the away Ashes, a potential WTC Final and the ODI World Cup.
Franchise cricket priority
The IPL is the best T20 competition and part of players' management plans, and franchises expect marquee players to be available; delayed arrivals in 2026 created unrest.
Fast bowler workload
National duty priority
Fast bowlers need to reset their bodies across a gruelling run of Test cricket, with fitness decisions guided by the medical team and coaches.
Franchise cricket priority
The cash-rich IPL has performance benefits for exposing the best players to top T20 competition, and the starting point should be that it can fit into the calendar.
- Head coach
- Andrew McDonald
- Players who could skip IPL 2027
- Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Cameron Green
- Australia workload
- 20 Tests and 14 white-ball matches over the next 12 months
- Decision timing
- After the five-Test tour of India, which directly precedes IPL 2027
- Upcoming priority cricket
- Away Ashes, potential WTC Final, ODI World Cup (October-November)
- 2023 precedent
- Head, Starc and Cummins missed IPL 2023 and helped Australia win the 50-over World Cup
- IPL 2026 issue
- Marquee players' delayed arrival created unrest between franchises and cricket boards
