It was only very recently that the stranded West Indian and South African players could leave India, for their respective homes, who were here for the T20 World Cup. Due to the tensions in West Asia, there were logistical challenges which made things difficult for them. And now, it could effectively mean, that these players could be late for the IPL 2026, which starts on March 28.

Big concern for all IPL franchises?

West Indies and SA players form a big component of almost all franchises, and if the delay happens, it could be big blow for the teams in question. The BCCI announced the first phase of the schedule on March 11 — for the first 20 matches, and it remains to be seen, if full-strength squads will be available.

Once again, the air travel from these countries could be impacted. Dubai and Doha airports have been suffering cancellations and delays off late. As per a report in PTI, a team official said that the situation is far from ideal. “There was a substantial delay in the departure of West Indies and South Africa players. It would be a tough task to get them back to India on time. Plus, the airfares have gone up substantially due to the war in West Asia,” the official said.

CSK assured about their resources

But on the flipside, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has assured that West Indian Akeal Hosein and South African batter Dewald Brevis will both join the team before the team’s first match. “We are expecting no delays from their end,” Viswanathan told PTI.

Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 opener will be played between RCB and SRH on March 28, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Though the venue is subject to clearance by the concerned authorities, and the decision will be made on March 13.