Why did some players boycott or leave mid-season?


IPL 2023 Winner

Players leaving or boycotting the IPL mid-season isn't super common, but when it happens, it usually stems from a mix of personal, professional, or political reasons. Here’s a breakdown of why some players have exited mid-tournament over the years:

🛫 1. Personal Reasons / Family Emergencies

  • Reason: Births, deaths, or family health concerns often pull players away.

  • Examples:

    • Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson (RCB, 2021) – Left amid COVID-19 second wave in India.

    • Andrew Tye (RR, 2021) – Cited bubble fatigue and fear over travel restrictions due to COVID.

    • Liam Livingstone (RR, 2021) – Left citing bio-bubble fatigue.

💬 2. Bubble Fatigue & Mental Health

  • Reason: Living in strict bio-bubbles (especially 2020–2021) took a toll on players’ mental health.

  • Examples:

    • Ben Stokes (RR, 2021) – Took a break for mental well-being after a hectic calendar.

    • Tom Banton (KKR, 2020) – Later admitted skipping IPL would’ve been better for his mental health.

💸 3. National Commitments

  • Reason: Players are sometimes pulled out by their national boards for preparation or series clashes.

  • Examples:

    • Pat Cummins (KKR, 2022) – Left early to prepare for Australia’s upcoming tours.

    • Kagiso Rabada & Anrich Nortje (DC) – Sometimes rested by CSA mid-season due to workload.

🏏 4. Lack of Game Time / Contract Termination

  • Reason: Some players opt out if they’re not getting matches, or teams release them mid-way.

  • Examples:

    • Alex Hales (multiple seasons) – Withdrew from squads citing bubble fatigue or personal priorities.

    • Mitchell Marsh (SRH, 2020) – Got injured in first game and left the squad for rehab.

🚨 5. Injury Concerns

  • Reason: Soft tissue injuries or long-standing niggles during IPL.

  • Examples:

    • Jofra Archer (RR & MI) – Multiple seasons missed or left midway due to injury recovery.

    • Ambati Rayudu (CSK, 2020) – Injured and missed early matches but returned later.

🌍 6. Political / Ethical Boycotts

  • Rare but Real: Not always publicly admitted, but some players choose not to participate in IPL due to political tensions or personal beliefs.

  • Examples:

    • Moeen Ali (2019) – Skipped parts of IPL to observe Ramadan and rest.

    • No Pakistani players since 2008 – Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

🔥 Honourable Mention: Controversial Exits

  • Kevin Pietersen (DC, 2015) – Left midway to focus on county cricket and a potential England return.

  • Shakib Al Hasan (various seasons) – Frequently skipped IPL due to Bangladesh national duty.

🧠 Quick Summary Table

Reason Common Examples
Personal/Family Emergencies Zampa, Tye, Livingstone
Bubble Fatigue Stokes, Banton, Livingstone
National Duty Cummins, Rabada, Shakib
Injuries Marsh, Archer, Rayudu
Lack of Game Time Hales, some uncapped internationals
Political/Religious Grounds Moeen (Ramadan), Pakistan player absence post-2008

Would you like a full timeline or visual graphic of major mid-season exits and their impact on teams?