The Australian cricket team is set to kick-start its busy cricketing calendar with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh next week. The tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa are also lined up, and then Australia will host England in a white-ball series. 

Pat Cummins‘ side will play four Tests at home to New Zealand and then five more red-ball matches away to India.

The team will also host England in Melbourne for the 150th anniversary Test match. 

With a busy schedule ahead, there are fears that the Aussie players may not be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027. Coach Andrew McDonald, in his chat with ESPN Cricinfo, said that the players will have to balance out their commitments. 

The 45-year-old said that he knows that many people will start asking about the IPL and how it fits in the busy schedule.

Aussie coach also said that the league is ‘fitting’ into the plans for a lot of players. McDonald also called the league the best competition in the world of T20 cricket and urged his players to balance their priorities. 

Australia’s coach also asked his players to take smart calls during the course of the next few months and be in constant touch with the medical teams. He also reminded them that playing for the national side is the top priority. Andrew McDonald also added that the Ashes is scheduled for next year along with a possible WTC final and the all-important 2027 ODI World Cup. 

How many Australian players are part of IPL?

As things stand, some of the major Aussie stars are part of the IPL. Cummins and Travis Head are playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are part of Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru respectively.

The fast bowling trio, in fact, joined the league in the latter stages of 2026. 

Cameron Green, who made his return to the game after a long injury layoff, is a key member of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis, who are also key parts of the Aussie side, are part of the Lucknow Super Giants. 

All of them are important players for Australia. The likes of Head, Inglis, and Marsh will be looked at as the Aussies try to retain their ODI World Cup title in 2027.

It will be a period of wait and watch for the IPL franchises before they announce their retention and release players lists later this year.