Mitchell Johnson drops a special request for foreign players amid IPL resumption!
May 16, 2025
Mitchell Johnson, one of the top cricketers of his time, is known for winning a couple of IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2017. Even though he’s had the thrill of lifting the trophy twice, he’s advised Pat Cummins and other Aussie players to skip the T20 league when it resumes on May 17, especially after the recent issues related to the Indo-Pak conflict.
In a column for The Western Australian, Johnson noted that while Cricket Australia lets players decide for themselves, those choices can be tough. Not playing may lead to some disappointment or financial issues later on, but safety should come first. He mentioned that he wouldn’t go back to India if he found himself in the same situation. “If it were up to me to return to India to finish the tournament, I’d say no. Lives and safety matter more than a paycheck,” he said.
It’s not just the IPL facing this problem; the Pakistan Super League is also struggling with the return of overseas players. Johnson emphasized that players shouldn’t feel pressured to go back, regardless of the push from the leagues. He suggested that it might be better to cancel both tournaments or think about relocating, even if that would create financial challenges.
He also expressed surprise at how Cricket South Africa is handling things compared to Cricket Australia. CSK has given its players a deadline of May 27 to return for the World Test Championship final, while CA is letting players choose for themselves. With the IPL final now delayed to June 3, just a week before the WTC final, Johnson thinks this might affect players’ prep for such an important match. It’s interesting to see South Africa taking a firmer approach than Australia, especially considering the financial connections between the two countries through the SA20 competition.