IPL 2021: Woakes, Malan & Bairstow Withdraw From IPL To Prioritise England Duty

Malan, Bairstow, and Woakes have joined English players like Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer to not play in the IPL. 

Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan of England walk out to bat during the T20 International Series against Sri Lanka. (File Photo/ Getty Images)

Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, and Chris Woakes have decided to put England first! All these England cricketers will not play in the remaining part of the Indian Premier League, which is set to begin from 19 September. All of them have informed their franchisees about their unavailability. 

The months ahead are scheduled for T20 World Cup and The Ashes for the English cricket team. Malan, Bairstow, and Woakes have joined English players like Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer to not play in the IPL. 

Woakesy, Jonny and Dawid set to miss the IPL 🏏 pic.twitter.com/b5iXcKeSjq

— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) September 11, 2021

In the case of Chris Woakes, he represented Delhi Capitals. He has not been involved in the shortest format of the game since 2015 for England but he made a return in the Sri Lanka series. He is expected to be selected in England's Ashes side as well and thus wants to spend the five weeks with family. 

Dawid Malan, who plays for Punjab Kings did not expect a call in the World T20 Squad but once he did, he decided against playing in the IPL. Bairstow, a senior and reliable member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad also has similar reasons for his withdrawal. 

There are 10 English players who are still part of the IPL. Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, George Garton, Chris Jordan, and Sam Billings. 

The IPL 2021 will re-start on 19 September 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Indian and English teams will travel to UAE and complete a six day quarantine.