3 Players Who Can Reject PSL Contract To Play In IPL 2025 As Replacement

Aashay Chopade

Alzarri Joseph with Virat Kohli in IPL 2025 (Source:@BoldBrigade/X.com)Alzarri Joseph with Virat Kohli in IPL 2025 (Source:@BoldBrigade/X.com)

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to start on March 22 and after Champions Trophy, then focus is back to the biggest carnival of Indian cricket. Also, as the season comes close, there are bound to be some withdrawals and injuries. 

Currently too, there are some players who are in doubt for IPL 2025, and recently, Corbin Bosch who was expected to play in PSL has been brought into MI squad as a replacement to Lizaad Williams.

PSL will clash with IPL this year, and so there could be more transfers from Pakistan. So, here are the three high-profile players who can move from PSL to IPL as a replacement player this year.

1. Matthew Short

Matthew Short has been a consistent performer in white-ball cricket in the last few years and is now playing consistently for Australia in T20Is and ODIs. His went unsold at a base price of 75 Lakhs in the IPL 2025 auction and so would be plying his trade for Islamabad United in PSL.

Matthew Short In T20s

Criterion
Data
Innings
120
Runs2982
Strike-Rate146.46

As shown in the table, he has a T20 average of close to 150 which makes him a dangerous player and has two centuries and 18 fifties in the format as well. 

Thus, there are high chances that Lucknow Super Giants can bring him as a replacement of Mitchell Marsh who is currently injured. He can open the batting and can bowl handy off-breaks which will be useful at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. So, we might see Matt Short leaving PSL to play IPL this year.

2. Michael Bracewell

Michael Bracewell played for RCB in IPL 2023, but was out of action for majority of 2024 and that played a big role him going unsold in IPL 2025 mega auction at a base price of 1.50 Crore. He is back with a bang at the international level though with his impressive all-round skills in Champions Trophy and picked 8 wickets along with scoring a crucial fifty in one of the games.

Criterion
Data
Innings135
Runs2916
Strike-Rate135.43
Wickets73 (68 Innings)

He has been a genuine all-rounder in T20 format as evident by the table. So, his flexibility as a cricketer can be used by teams like LSG or DC who might need a replacement. A spin-bowling all-rounder in Lucknow can be a match-winner while his inclusion in the DC line-up in place of Harry Brook can provide them with more depth and balance.

3. Alzarri Joseph

The West Indian pacer, Alzarri Joseph was one of the high-profile cricketers to go unsold in IPL 2025 auction after being bought for 11.50 Crore in the 2024 auction. He is slated to play for Peshwar Zalmi in PSL 2025, but with Josh Hazlewood's fitness a concern for RCB, he might be selected as a replacement player.

Criterion
Data
Innings141
Wickets176
Average24.77
Strike-Rate17.3
4w/5w5/2

In IPL, Alzarri Joseph has not been that impressive and has picked just 21 wickets in 22 matches at an economy rate of 9.55. However, as evident by the table, he is a wicket-taker in the shortest format and when he is in his groove, he can run through the batting line-ups. Also, Joseph has raw pace in his kitty which can help him take the pitch out of equation if he gets it right and thus RCB's call may force him to leave PSL 2025.