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IPL 2025 News: Injuries, Replacements & Playoff Predictions
The Gujarat Titans (GT) have signed Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis into their team in place of England's Jos Buttler for the playoff rounds of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Mendis receives his first IPL call-up after Mayank Yadav, a pace prodigy for Lucknow Super Giants, is disqualified due to a back problem.
Gujarat Titans Sign Kusal Mendis as Jos Buttler Departs for England Duty
Gujarat Titans, who are currently well-placed in the top half of the IPL 2025 standings, will have to miss out on the services of their explosive left-handed opening hitter Jos Buttler for the playoffs because of his England national team's commitments to an upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies, starting May 29th, the same day as the IPL playoffs.
To replace Buttler, GT have chosen experienced Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis. Mendis, aged 29 and never previously in the IPL, is an internationally experienced player with a batting reputation for being aggressive.
He played in the recent Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he played for the Quetta Gladiators, making 143 runs at a strike rate of 168 in five games. Mendis is poised to join the GT team after they play their last league stage game on May 25th against the Chennai Super Kings.
This addition gives GT a like-for-like aggressive top-order batsman as they look to reproduce their success of the 2022 season.
LSG's Pace Ace Mayank Yadav Out for Season with Back Injury
Meanwhile, in a big setback to the Lucknow Super Giants, their young pace ace Mayank Yadav has been ruled out of the rest of IPL 2025 with a back injury. The 22-year-old made a big impression in the last IPL season with his raw pace, regularly clocking speeds of over 150 kmph. But he has been troubled by fitness problems ever since.
Yadav had gone through most of the ongoing season with a previous back injury but returned in highly anticipated fashion, playing two games against the Punjab Kings and the Mumbai Indians.
In the two games, he was able to claim two wickets but was clearly not bowling anywhere near his best speed. The chronic injury is a significant blow for LSG, who are at present in a close race to earn a spot in the playoffs.
New Zealand Pacer William O'Rourke Named as Mayank Yadav's Replacement
LSG have appointed New Zealand pacer William O'Rourke as Mayank Yadav's replacement for the rest of the season. The 22-year-old O'Rourke is a tall, hulking right-arm pacer who has played for New Zealand in all three forms of international cricket, taking 36 wickets in 10 Tests, 22 in 17 ODIs, and five in five T20Is.
He comes into the LSG team at his base price of INR 3 crore. Whereas O'Rourke provides overseas know-how, replacing the raw tempo and potential of Mayank Yadav will not be an easy task for the Lucknow franchise as it navigates the decisive latter stages of the league.
Replacements Highlight Player Availability Challenges as Playoffs Loom
These stand-ins reflect the issues of IPL teams in balancing player availability at the business end of the competition, with injuries and international duties having a big say in team makeups. Gujarat Titans will be expecting that Kusal Mendis can fit in their system nicely and give the firepower required during the playoffs, whereas Lucknow Super Giants will expect William O'Rourke to rise to the occasion and replace the loss caused by the unfortunate injury of Mayank Yadav.