New Delhi, March 21: The Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) is set to kick off on March 28. However, the league’s 19th season is already making headlines due to fitness issues affecting several key players. Nine foreign players will be unavailable for the initial matches due to fitness and other reasons, including four from Australia.
Let’s take a closer look at the foreign players who will miss the early matches of IPL’s 19th season due to fitness concerns.
Pat Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and an Australian fast bowler, is not fully fit. Consequently, he will miss the league’s opening matches. Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the captain of SRH in his absence.
Josh Hazlewood, a fast bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is also not in peak condition and is on the road to recovery. He is expected to join the team before their fourth league match against Mumbai Indians on April 12.
Mitchell Starc, another Australian fast bowler playing for Delhi Capitals (DC), will also be sidelined for the initial matches. Cricket Australia has advised him to manage his workload, preventing him from participating.
Matthew Short of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will miss the early matches due to a thumb fracture.
Lockie Ferguson, a fast bowler for Punjab Kings (PBKS), will be unavailable for the first seven matches of IPL 2026. He is currently spending time with his wife and their newborn child back home.
Matheesha Pathirana, a fast bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will not be available for the first two weeks of the season.
Wanindu Hasaranga, a spinner for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is also injured, and his participation in the early matches remains uncertain.
Ishan Malinda, a fast bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is in Sri Lanka due to a shoulder injury. He will only be cleared to join the IPL after passing a fitness test conducted by the board. His absence from the initial matches is confirmed.
Nuwan Thushara, a fast bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will also join the team only after passing the fitness test mandated by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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