Inglis contributed a vital 38 runs for Punjab during Sunday night’s second qualifier, helping the Kings secure a five-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad.
This win marked the Ricky Ponting-led franchise’s first final appearance in 11 years, where they will meet Hazlewood’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who qualified last week.
Marcus Stoinis will also play for Punjab in the final, meaning Australia will have three players and a prominent coach involved in the biggest T20 franchise final of the year.
However, it’s Hazlewood and Inglis’ participation that will have the most significant impact on Australia’s Test squad.
The IPL final was originally set for May 25 but was postponed by around ten days due to India’s conflict with Pakistan.
Australian players not involved in the IPL left for the UK last week to prepare for the WTC final against South Africa, starting at Lord’s on June 11.
Hazlewood and Inglis are expected to depart India the day after Tuesday’s final, giving them six days to prepare once they arrive in London.
Inglis faces a tough challenge to secure a spot in Australia’s Test XI despite scoring a century on his Sri Lanka debut, with the return of Cameron Green adding competition.
Hazlewood is also battling for selection. The 34-year-old last played a Test in December but missed the final stages of the home India series and the Sri Lanka tour due to a calf injury.
In his absence, Scott Boland impressed with a career-best 10-76 haul, helping Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG.
Selectors face a difficult choice between Hazlewood and Boland, though Ponting has recently predicted Hazlewood will regain his place for Lord’s.
Hazlewood had earlier struggled with a shoulder injury that nearly ruled him out of the IPL, but he was eventually cleared to play.
South Africa’s team does not face the same scheduling conflicts, as their players were ordered to exit the IPL by the original final date of May 25.
This meant quicks Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi missed the IPL final.
Additionally, South Africa enlisted Australia’s Ashes rival, Stuart Broad, as a consultant ahead of the WTC final.
Meanwhile, Hazlewood’s RCB side is chasing their first IPL title after losing finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
To win, the Virat Kohli-led RCB must overcome the Punjab Kings, whom they defeated in the first playoff match last week.
They will also need to contain in-form Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, who scored a match-winning 87 off 41 balls to help chase down Mumbai’s 203 runs with an over to spare.
Inglis’ 38 runs were key in the qualifier, with the Western Australian hitting five fours and two sixes in a quick 21-ball innings, setting a strong platform during the powerplay.
