Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has drawn the ire of Indian media after his strong comments criticizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its organizers amid ongoing regional tensions.
Johnson claimed that the BCCI is pressuring overseas players to return to India and complete the remaining matches of IPL 2025 despite growing security concerns. He stated, “If I were asked to return and finish the tournament, my answer would be ‘No.’ Nothing is more valuable than life, and no one should be forced into such a situation.”
The former pacer further suggested that the IPL should consider postponing the league to a safer time window instead of compelling foreign players to play in an environment they find unsafe. He warned that while the IPL might suffer financial losses, player safety must take precedence.
Johnson’s remarks come shortly after fellow Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc pulled out of IPL 2025 for similar reasons, citing regional instability. Starc informed his franchise, Delhi Capitals, about his unavailability and emphasized his discomfort following the Dharamshala blackout incident, which occurred during a match he played. His wife, Alyssa Healy, also publicly criticized the security conditions in a recent interview.
Johnson’s comments, however, didn’t sit well with Indian outlets, many of which accused the former cricketer of exaggerating the situation and damaging the league’s reputation.
As IPL 2025 is set to resume on May 17, the debate continues over the safety and fairness of pushing ahead with the tournament under tense circumstances.
