Mumbai, May 14 – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo has returned to India along with fellow West Indies players including Romario Shepherd ahead of the resumption of IPL 2025. The tournament is set to restart on May 17 with a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Bravo, a former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star, played a crucial role over the years with his bowling and lower-order hitting. After retiring, he served as CSK’s bowling coach before joining KKR as a mentor. He confirmed his return via an Instagram video on Wednesday, where he’s seen in an airport electric vehicle saying “We are back!” in Hindi. His Instagram story also featured fellow KKR stars Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.

The IPL was suspended on May 9 following escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The conflict began after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, killing 26 (25 Indians and one Nepali). In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan, prompting missile and drone attacks on Indian border cities. Northern and western airports were shut temporarily.

With a ceasefire now in place, the BCCI has announced the restart of the tournament. Franchises have called back overseas players and support staff. KKR will play two remaining league matches — against RCB on May 17 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 26 in New Delhi.

While Bravo and others have returned, some players from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa remain hesitant due to security concerns. Notably, Australia’s Jack Fraser-McGurk has opted out. His team, Delhi Capitals, has replaced him with Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman.