The excitement of IPL 2025 is set to begin once again on May 17. However, the availability of foreign players has been a major challenge for many teams after the one-week postponement.

Many foreign players have returned to India for the remaining matches of IPL, but some have completely refused to come this season. One of them is the name of Australian legend Mitchell Starc. Starc was part of the Delhi Capitals team in IPL 2025.

Also Read: KKR Redefines Matchday Atmosphere with Unmatched Tifo Displays during IPL 2025

Starc returned due to India-Pakistan tension

However, Mitchell Starc returned to Australia due to tensions between India and Pakistan. Starc was also involved in the match when there was a sudden blackout in the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.

Many foreign players who played in this match were in shock, but now the situation has become normal and the tournament is starting again. In such a situation, there are many foreign players who have returned.

There is talk of imposing a penalty on Starc

Mitchell Starc was an important player for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, but Starc may be in trouble due to his non-return in the remaining matches. Starc was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction.

In such a situation, it is believed that the Delhi Capitals team can deduct the auction fee if he does not return for the remaining matches of the season, for which the Australian bowler is also said to be ready.

According to the report, Mitchell Starc may face a penalty of 400000 Australian dollars i.e. Rs 3.92 crore if he does not return to IPL 2025. This amount will be deducted from his auction fee.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Here are the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament

Starc's performance in IPL 2025

Talking about Starc's performance in IPL 2025, he has taken 14 wickets in 11 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy rate of 10.16. Starc bowled very economically this season. So, his return could prove to be a big loss for Delhi Capitals as the team is in dire need of wins to make it to the top four of the tournament. 

Delhi Capitals are currently fifth on the IPL 2025 Points Table and are among the four contenders for the playoffs’ spot. They have three matches remaining, and a win in at least two of them will take them closer to the qualification. Winning all three, will guarantee a top four finish.

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc scripted history in the third Test against West Indies in Jamaica as he grabbed the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, in just 15 balls. No player in world cricket has ever managed to take a 5-wicket haul in fewer deliveries. With this Starc also surpassed Chaminda Vaas in terms of taking most wickets in tests by left-arm seamers. 

In this article, we will take a look at those left-arm bowlers with most wickets in tests.

Also Read: 5 wickets in 15 balls! Mitchell Starc creates record for the fastest five-wicket haul in test cricket

Most Wickets in Tests by left-arm seamers

7. Neil Wagner | 260

Neil Wagner, the former New Zealand fast bowler, claimed 260 wickets in 64 Tests at an average of 27.60 for New Zealand, from 2012 until his international retirement in February 2024, earning plaudits along the way for his indefatigable left-arm line of attack. 

He was a key member of the team that reached number one in the world and won the inaugural Test world championship in 2021. Among career highlights were his roles in famous victories over England in 2018 and last year's one-run win over the same opposition in Wellington.

6. Zaheer Khan | 311

Zaheer Khan, India’s finest left-arm seamer, has played 92 tests and took 311 wickets with 11 five-wicket hauls. Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, Zaheer was a key figure in many of India’s overseas wins. His standout performances in England and South Africa helped India win Test matches in challenging conditions. 

5. Mitchell Johnson | 313

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who struck fear into batsmen around the world but especially on the bouncy pitches of his homeland, took 313 wickets in 73 tests at an average of 28.40.

He was a pretty decent bowler throughout his career, but during his peak, he was one of the terrifying bowlers in the world. One of the most notable performances from him was the 2013-14 Ashes in Australia, where he ripped apart the English lineup, match-after-match, innings-after-innings.

4. Trent Boult | 317

Trent Boult is a New Zealand cricketer who is known for being a threat to batsmen all over the world because of his ability to swing the ball on both sides. Boult debuted in Test matches in 2011. He’s the fourth-highest wicket-taker as a left-arm seamers in Tests as he took 317 wickets in 78 matches. He owns 18 four-wicket hauls, 10 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket haul.

His best bowling figures in Test innings are 6 for 30 runs and a single Test match 10 wickets for 80 runs. He was a part of the winning squad of the ICC World Test Championship in 2019-2021.

3. Chaminda Vaas | 355

In a time when Murali was taking all the plaudits, Vaas was undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowler, picking up 355 wickets in 111 Tests at an impressive average of 29.58. He’s the only seamer from the island nation to have over 200 wickets and took career best figures of 7/71 with his deceptive swing and persistent line and length.

2. Mitchell Starc | 402

Australian speedster Mitchell Starc set several records in the 3rd and final Test against West Indies in Kingston. In his 100th Test appearance, Starc took seven wickets, including six in the final innings. He recorded a fifer off just 15 balls. 

Starc returned figures worth 6/9 from 7.3 overs in the fourth innings, his career-best in the format. This was his 16th Test fifer. Starc, who became the 16th Aussie to complete 100 Test appearances, has now 402 wickets as a left-arm seamers in test at an average of 27.02.

Also Read: West Indies vs Australia: West Indies register second lowest test score in an inning by a team

1. Wasim Akram | 414

Regarded as one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers to have played the game, Wasim Akram represented Pakistan in 104 Tests between 1985 and 2002, claiming 414 wickets at an average of 23.06. He also took 25 5-wicket halls. Among these, he took two Test hat-tricks. His best bowling figures in a test match were 7/119. 

On his 100th test, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc created a record which would be very hard to break in future. During the second innings of the pink-ball test between West Indies and Australia in Kingston, Starc registered his 16th five-wicket haul in test cricket in just 15 balls. 

In doing that, he broke the record for the fastest five-wicket haul (from the start of bowling innings) in test cricket history, breaking Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad and Scott Boland's previous record of 19 balls.

Starc's record-breaking five-wicket haul in 15 balls

Here is how Mitchell Starc broke the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in test cricket history.

1st wicket: 1st ball - John Campbell

Starc dismissed John Campbell with a beautiful outswinger in the first ball of the second inning. The ball moved a bit, and it was enough to produce an edge to substitute wicket-keeper Josh Inglish.

2nd wicket: 5th ball - Kevlon Anderson

In the fifth ball of the first over, Kevlon Anderson left a delivery from Starc, who was able to make the ball come in sharply. The ball hit the pad, and the umpire was not hesitant to rule him out, as Kevlon Anderson did not offer any shot. Although he took the DRS, only to be proven wrong by the review. 

3rd wicket: 6th ball - Brandon King

It was a typical Mitchell Starc dismissal. Brandon King was bamboozled by a big inswinging delivery from Starc.

King went for a big drive through the long off region, but the ball came back sharply to go through his bat and pad and took an inside edge before hitting the stumps. 

Starc had three wickets in his and Australia's first over. 

Read Also | West Indies vs Australia: West Indies register second lowest test score in an inning by a team

4th wicket: 13th ball - Mikyle Louis

Although West Indies batters were able to play out Starc's second over, the left-arm pacer struck in the first ball of his third over. 

Another big inswinging delivery at 142.4 kmph, and Mikyle Louis did not have any answer to that. Louis lounged into a big defence, but the ball came back in sharply and went on to hit the front of his back pad, in front of the middle. 

The right-handed batter did not even wait for the umpire's decision and started walking back.

That was Starc's 400th test wicket. He is only the second left-arm pacer ever to take 400 test wickets. Only Wasim Akram is ahead of him at the moment with 419 test wickets.

5th wicket: 15th ball - Shai Hope

Two balls later, Starc got Shai Hope out with the same formula. 

Hope did not know which way the ball was going and had his weight on the back foot. He was late before the inswinger hit his front pad.

Hope went for the DRS, only to know that the ball was crushing the middle of leg stump. 

After the 15th ball, Starc's bowling figure showed 2.3-2-2-5. 

Fastest five-wicket hauls (from the start of bowling innings) in test cricket

The world of Test cricket rankings has recently witnessed a drastic shift. As per the ICC's latest Test player rankings update on July 6, 2025, a fresh wave of change is brought out to us, along with new names at the top.

The biggest headline undoubtedly belongs to England's fiery batter, Harry Brook, who has roared up to claim his place as the new No. 1 test batter, overtaking his teammate, Joe Root.

This is closely linked with the ongoing test series between India and England, which is nothing short of a run-scoring carnival. Nearly 1,700 runs were scored in the 2nd test at Edgbaston, which resulted in batters from both sides making big moves in the rankings.

Adding to the excitement, there's the sensational Indian star Shubman Gill, who has made a historic Top 10 debut, following his record-breaking, consistent performances.

From the gains of Wiaan Mulder and Akash Deep to NK Reddy's fall from batters and all-rounders' ranking, check out who is on fire in the longest format of the game right now.

ICC Test player rankings update: Top 10 Batters

Here's the latest ICC Test player rankings update on Men's Test Batting, featuring new no. 1 and Shubman Gill's historic debut.

Read Also: Every record Shubman Gill broke during the ENG vs IND, 2nd test at Edgbaston

Ranking rises and falls: A closer look at the gains and setbacks

After the updated ICC rankings have been released, we have seen many ups and downs in the numbers, based on the recent test performances. Let's take a closer look at them:

Harry Brook overtakes Joe Root to claim No. 1 spot (+1)

Harry Brook's performance in the 2nd test against India at Edgbaston, scoring 158 and 23, was enough to give him a boost in the rankings. He climbed from the second spot to the top (no. 1), overtaking his teammate, Joe Root.

This boost gave us a new ICC No. 1 test batter.

Wiaan Mulder's 367* earns him a massive rise (+34)

South Africa's Wiaan Mulder has made a monumental leap in the ICC test player rankings, climbing to No. 22 after his phenomenal 367* against Zimbabwe in the 2nd test at Bulawayo. Captaining for the first time, Mulder struck 49 fours and 4 sixes during his remarkable knock.

He made a decision to declare the innings and opt not to chase Brian Lara's 400*, out of respect for the legend, as well as to prioritise team victory.

Shubman Gill's historic Top 10 debut (+15)

Shubman Gill delivered a record-breaking performance at Edgbaston, scoring 269 in the first innings and following it up with 161 runs in the next one. He not only secured India's first test victory at the venue but also made a historic Top 10 debut in the ICC test player rankings.

Gill's batting has given him a 15-place push, into the 6th position.

Jamie Smith's fixates in the 10th spot (+16)

England's wicket-keeper batter, Jamie Smith, got a 16-place raise after his 184 and 88 scores at Edgbaston. His dedication to stand up for his team and deliver consistently has earned him the 10th spot.

Read Also: Test Record: Highest individual score by any batter in an innings in Test

Nitish Kumar Reddy down to no. 75 (-11)

In the latest ICC test player rankings update, India's Nitish Kumar Reddy was seen having a hard to with the bat, unable to contribute much for the team. He got dismissed for just 1 run in both innings at the Edgbaston test, resulting in an 11-place downgrade in the rankings.

ICC Test player rankings update: Top 10 Bowlers 

Here's the latest ICC Test player rankings update on Men's Test Bowling:

Ranking rises and falls: A closer look at the gains and setbacks

Take a look at the ups and downs in the rankings of individual players that are worth noting:

Akash Deep jumps to 45th in the World (+39)

The rising Indian fast bowler, Akash Deep has earned the no. 45 spot (gaining a 39-place push), following his 10-wicket haul against England at Edgbaston. He finished with figures of 10/187, and made history by becoming the only second non-english fast bowler to get ten wickets at this venue.

Read Also: Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

South Africa's Codi Yusuf climbs to No. 55 (+32)

Following the performance of the South African pacer Codi Yusuf against Zimbabwe, he gained 32 places up in the latest ICC test player rankings update.

Yusuf has consistently proved to be a wicket-taking option for the team, grabbing 10 wickets across the 2 test matches.

Prasidh Krishna's fall to No. 82 (-13)

The lastest ICC test player rankings update also saw a 13-place downgrade for the India's Prasidh Krishna. He struggled to be economical in the English conditions, giving out too much during his spells, resulting in this fall.

Read Also: Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

ICC Test player rankings update: Top 10 All-rounders

Here's the latest ICC Test player rankings update on Men's Test All-rounders:

Bengal has a deep-rooted passion for cricket, and the IPL offers a great opportunity to have their local talents compete at the highest level. Several players from Bengal were a part of the exciting IPL 2025 season.

Whether through match-winning spells, consistent contribution, or vital innings, their presence was always prominent in the season. Check out the full list and performance of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 along with their on-field impact.

1. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami has been a long-standing and key figure in Bengal's domestic cricketing landscape. After being ruled out of the previous IPL season (2024) due to an ankle injury, he made a comeback this year as Sunrisers Hyderabad's key pick and second-highest buy for ₹10 crore.

Shami had a somewhat mixed IPL 2025 season and struggled with consistency and his lengths. After his stellar Purple Cap-winning season in 2023, his 2025 campaign saw him take 6 wickets in 9 matches, with an economy of 11.25.

However, Shami continued to prove his excellence by becoming the only bowler in IPL history to claim a first-ball wicket 4 times. He achieved the fourth one by dismissing Shaik Rasheed in the SRH vs CSK match in the 2025 season.

Shami IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours

2. Abishek Porel (Delhi Capitals)

Born in Chandannagar, West Bengal, Abishek Porel is a true local and a proud representative of the state. He was retained for ₹4 crore by Delhi Capitals, where he continued to showcase his brilliance as a wicket-keeper batter.

He began this season with a good pace and proved to be vital by accelerating the run flow when needed. He scored 301 runs in 13 matches, which makes him the second-highest scorer for DC this season.

While his form and the team's overall performance had a slight dip towards the latter part of the tournament, his contributions as a top-order batter were undeniable. He proved that he can adapt to different batting positions and do well.

Porel IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

3. Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)

Mukesh Kumar is another example of an incredible pacer who plays for Bengal in domestic cricket and has done exceptionally well in the stage of IPL. Following his brilliant 2024 season for DC, he was retained this year for ₹8 crore via RTM (Right to Match).

He proved to be a reliable performer, delivering effective spells in death overs and under pressure. His ability to use variations and bowl yorkers with accuracy made him a key part of the team's bowling unit.

He delivered a standout performance in IPL 2025 against LSG with his 4-wicket haul and great spell, which earned him the POTM award after their victory.

Kumar IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

4. Akash Deep (Lucknow Super Giants)

Hailing from Bihar, Akash Deep moved to Bengal to pursue cricket and performed well in the domestic field, then later making it to the India 'A' team. In IPL 2025, he was secured by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8 crore and played 6 matches.

Akash missed some initial games due to a back injury, and later bounced back to showcase a glimpse of his quality and experience as a fast-medium bowler.

There wasn't any particular "game-changing" performance or moment for him this season, but his contributions were a part of LSG's overall bowling efforts.

Akash IPL 2025 stats:

5. Shahbaz Ahmed (Lucknow Super Giants)

A keu all-rounder for Bengal's state team, Shahbaz Ahmed was bought for ₹2.4 crore in the mega auction by Lucknow Super Giants. He played a supporting role in IPL 2025 and provided depth in their squad.

He played only 3 matches, where he came out to bat for a single innings and took 1 wicket in the entire season. While the 2025 season did not see any noteworthy performance, his presence in the squad was enough to back then up and bring flexibility as an all-rounder option.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

Ahmed IPL 2025 stats:

For years, the Board of Control for Crock in India (BCCI) has navigated various challenges. However a recent coury order is set to have a major financial impact on the sport's governing body.

This ruling revisits a past chapter involving a former IPL team and a long-standing dispute with them. The decision has arrived after a decade of the case, and brings a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Read the full story to know why.

How the BCCI-Kochi Tuskers Kerala dispute began

The root of this major legal battle dates back to 2011, when the BCCI terminated the contract of the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The team, managed by Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL), had only played in one IPL season.

The BCCI claimed they ended the contract because Kochi Tuskers failed to provide a required annual bank guarantee by a deadline in March 2011. This was seen by the BCCI as a serious breach of their agreement.

However, the team owners had a different view. They argued that their delay was due to several issues, including problems with the stadium in Kochi and delays in getting necessary approvals. They also stated that the BCCI continued to deal with them and even accepted payments for months after the March deadline.

The team owners believed this showed the BCCI had waived or overlooked the deadline, making their sudden contract termination unfair.

Taking the matter to arbitration:

Because they felt the termination was wrong, the Kochi Tuskers owners took the matter to arbitration in 2012. An independent tribunal looked at all the facts. In June 2015, this tribunal ruled in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The tribunal specifically directed the BCCI to pay ₹384.83 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) for lost earnings and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) for a wrongfully cashed bank guarantee. These amounts also included interest and legal costs.

Read Also: Anaya Bangar requests BCCI, ICC to revisit their current policies on transgender inclusion in women’s cricket

The Financial Fallout: Why ₹538 crore to be paid now?

The BCCI challenged the 2015 arbitration award in the Bombay High Court, arguing it was unfair and that the damages were too high. However, the recent Bombay HC ruling upheld the original arbitration decision.

This means the BCCI is now legally required to pay a total of over ₹538 crore, including accumulated interest since 2015, to the KTK owners. This represents a major financial loss and a significant legal defeat for the Indian cricket board.