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Cricket fans react to Kusal Mendis leaving PSL to join IPL

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16th May, 2025 15:47 IST

Tensions between India and Pakistan don't seem to be easing anytime soon. In fact, the situation escalated to the point where both the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 had to be temporarily suspended.

Now, with IPL 2025 set to resume on May 17, the PSL will also restart on Saturday — but not in the UAE as previously claimed by Pakistanis. Instead, matches will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Amid this uncertainty, many foreign players from both leagues had returned to their home countries. While several have rejoined their IPL squads, the same cannot be said for the PSL. One such player is Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis, who was playing for Quetta Gladiators — the team currently sitting at the top of the points table.

Kusal Mendis leaves PSL?

According to NewsWire, Mendis was expected to be officially announced soon as a replacement player for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025. "Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis is likely to join the Gujarat Titans for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season, according to cricket sources," the Sri Lankan website reported.  

However, GT confirmed that Mendis would become the second Sri Lankan cricketer to join the franchise mid-season, following Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka was brought in as a replacement for injured New Zealand star Glenn Phillips, while Mendis is expected to replace England's Jos Buttler for the rest of the IPL 2025 campaign.

Fans react to Kusal Mendis leaving PSL for IPL

Interestingly, Kusal Mendis is not the first player to leave the PSL to join the IPL. Following the news of his possible move, many fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to troll the PSL — and, in some cases, Pakistan as a whole. 

Some users even referenced the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team, which took place on March 3 near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The team's convoy was ambushed by 12 armed gunmen, an incident that raised serious international concerns about the safety of playing cricket in Pakistan. 

One cricket fan wrote, "Pakistan was never safe for Sri Lankan players! I remember once they were evacuated mid-match by helicopters."

Another commented, "It is clear that PSL is a third-class league. Players rejected from the IPL go there as a second option. IPL is always the top priority, no matter which league they’re playing in. Star players in PSL are just replacements in the IPL." 

One post read, "Mendis made a great decision. Pakistan is not safe for anyone. It’s a country run by terrorists." 

Another added, "Win-win situation for Mendis — better pay and better safety."

Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 

The IPL 2025 season was delayed by a week following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, which have since de-escalated. As a result, the final — originally slated for May 25 — has been rescheduled to June 3. 

So far, the Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, have emerged as one of the standout teams. With eight wins in 11 matches, they are tied with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at 16 points but hold the top spot on the table thanks to a better net run rate.  

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