Nathan Ellis reflects on his IPL experience, the safety and uncertainty

When Nathan Ellis signed with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, he never envisaged fleeing the country midway through the tournament due to a possible war.

Upon signing with the Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 Indian Premier League, Nathan Ellis never envisaged fleeing the country midway through the tournament.

The Australian paceman was one of many Australians who left India following the threat of war with Pakistan in early May after the IPL and Pakistan Super League suspended their respective tournaments before a ceasefire was agreed.

The 30-year-old who decided not to return to the IPL said his decision came down to the unpredictable nature of the situation.

“We live a pretty sheltered life down in Hobart and a long way from the world’s troubles but it was sort of the unknown and a pretty scary situation in Dharamshala,” Ellis said.

“I never felt unsafe, I never felt in any danger at all, we are so far south in Chennai that I never felt unsafe. But it is just the unknown right, you sort of don’t know what it is going on or what way is up.

Nathan Ellis has been named in the squad for the five T20 matches against the West Indies in July. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP)

“I thought it was handled really brilliantly by Chennai themselves and made it really easy to get us all home and with the idea that if we can come back in a week, a day or a month, whatever will do it but get us home, get us safe and in a good piece of mind that we are not in any danger.

“I feel for the people up north and there is a lot going on. We sort of got out of there when everyone was leaving and then I didn’t go back.

“There was two games left, they were dead rubbers, we were out of the tournament and I wasn’t playing so there was a real good conversation whether it was worth it or not for me to come back

“The coach said ‘mate you’re not going to play, it is a dead rubber’, so I stayed at home which obviously wasn’t ideal given the circumstances as to why I was home but in a world where you spend a lot of time away, getting that bonus week at home is kind of nice, freshen up and recharge before starting up again in a month or so.”

Ellis said if he had have been guaranteed a place in the side for those finals two games, he would have made the trip back to India.

“I felt that a lot of measures had been put in place, the games had been moved, if I was in the frame or told I was going to play, I definitely would have gone back,” he said.

The Australian quick has now turned his attention to the upcoming tour of the West Indies with T20s set to start of June 26.

“To be honest, I am just excited to play some cricket, it’s been a while now,” he said.

“I played in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and then went to the IPL and played one game.

“I feel like I haven’t got the match juices flowing for a little while, so I am just excited to play some cricket and once the West Indies hit we have a pretty full on schedule with the West Indies away, then South Africa in the Top End series which is really exciting and then India come and we will be knees deep in the summer there and you blink and the Big Bash is around the corner.”

Ellis played the opening match for the Super Kings but didn’t manage to play another game before the tournament was put on hold.

“Really it was just balance and match-ups. The batting was the reason, we had to fill some spots and I didn’t fill them,” Ellis said.

“You can only fit four overseas players into an 11-man team, it wasn’t anything personal, I understood that, I am very rational when it comes to that sort of stuff.

“When you are not playing over there you have ample opportunity to train the house down and I spent the time working on things and trying things with some of the coaches you have never met before and some of the world’s best coaches.

“Personally I am disappointed I didn’t play more, I didn’t feature more but I definitely have walked away feeling my cricket has improved with a couple of months over there even on the sidelines.”

International cricket returns to Bellerive for the Australian summer.

Australian and Tasmanian fast bowler Nathan Ellis says he is excited to see India come to Tasmania this summer.

Australia will host India in October and November for a three one-day international and five T20 matches with the world’s best T20 team playing its first game in Hobart since 2012.

Ninja Stadium will play host to the third T20 match between the two nations.

Ellis, who has burst into Australia’s ODI and T20 line-ups, is excited to see cricket back at Bellerive.

“Getting international cricket down at Bellerive is really exciting, I got to play my first game there last year against Pakistan which was a really surreal moment,” Ellis said.

“I am really excited to get a game against India at home and with the Big Bash last year, cricket in Tasmania is thriving and to get an international match against India in Tasmania is a really exciting prospect.

Australian Cricket will return to Bellerive Oval in November when they play the third T20 International against India. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“I am not too sure what their squad is going to be because they have the Test matches, they got a big cricketing calendar, who knows what the squad is going to be.

“But it will be cool to see some of the Chennai guys, I mean you play a lot of IPL cricket, you know a lot of the guys. It will be good and a really competitive series.

“They are a powerhouse cricketing nation and to get them in Australia for one for a series is great but to get them down to Tassie shows where Tasmanian cricket’s at.”

Australia last hosted India at Bellerive for an ODI in 1991 with the Aussies claiming a comfortable eight wicket win thanks to local hero David Boon’s 102 not out.

India have played five matches in Hobart with two wins against Sri Lanka, one against Zimbabwe and a loss to Australia and Pakistan.

Ellis is expecting another full house similar to the BBL final the Hurricanes won in January.

“We keep turning up, the crowd keep turning up and the domestic sides are doing well so I think it is just desserts for Tassie and hopefully they turn out to support Australia when the time comes,” Ellis said.

“At the moment I am just enjoying every game of cricket I get in Tassie with a full house, that’s the biggest thing.

“Anytime they turn up I want to perform and want us to do well.

“Last year’s atmosphere there was 15,000 for the final but it felt like 50,000, it was amazing and hopefully we can keep winning and replicating that because it is as good as it gets.”

Cricket Australia’s International summer of cricket presale runs June 3-13. Fans can still sign up for pre-sale access during this period, visit cricket.com.au/tickets for more information.

Originally published as Nathan Ellis reflects on his IPL experience, the safety and uncertainty