The IPL 2026 season kicks off on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium but before a single ball is bowled, the injury news is already stealing the spotlight. Multiple pace attacks have been ripped apart, a title-contending team is searching for a new captain, and several overseas stars have been held back by their national boards.
This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to every injured & unavailable player of IPL 2026. Whether you follow fantasy cricket, want to check on your favourite team’s squad, or simply want to know who to watch out for when they return you’re in the right place.
Quick Snapshot: How Bad Is the Injury Crisis?
Before we go team by team, here is a bird’s eye view of the damage:
- 3 players are ruled out for the entire season
- 5+ players will miss the opening matches
- KKR are the worst-hit team, losing three of their top pacers
- SRH will begin the season without their captain (Pat Cummins)
- Australia’s cricket board is actively managing the workload of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood
- IPL 2026 is the 19th edition of the league, and it begins under a genuine cloud of fitness concerns
Complete List of Injured & Unavailable Players – IPL 2026
| # | Player | Team | Status | Injury/Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harshit Rana | KKR | Ruled Out (Season) | Knee surgery — injured in T20 WC warm-up vs SA (Feb 2026) |
| 2 | Matheesha Pathirana | KKR | Delayed (Mid-April) | Calf strain picked up during T20 World Cup |
| 3 | Akash Deep | KKR | Ruled Out (Season) | Lower-back stress injury, failed to recover in time |
| 4 | Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Unavailable Early | Hamstring/Achilles recovery — last played Nov 2025 |
| 5 | Yash Dayal | RCB | Ruled Out (Season) | Personal situation — unavailable entire season |
| 6 | Pat Cummins | SRH | Missing Early Matches | Lumbar stress (back) injury; also missed T20 WC 2026 |
| 7 | Jack Edwards | SRH | Ruled Out (Season) | Foot injury — replaced by David Payne |
| 8 | Eshan Malinga | SRH | Doubtful (Season) | Shoulder injury picked up during T20 WC |
| 9 | Nathan Ellis | CSK | Ruled Out (Season) | Hamstring aggravated in domestic One-Day Cup final |
| 10 | Matthew Short | CSK | Missing Early Matches | Fractured thumb |
| 11 | Sam Curran | RR | Ruled Out (Season) | Groin injury — replaced by Dasun Shanaka |
| 12 | Mitchell Starc | DC | Missing Early Matches | Cricket Australia workload management |
| 13 | Ben Duckett | DC | Withdrew from IPL | Personal decision — focusing on Test cricket after poor Ashes |
| 14 | Lockie Ferguson | PBKS | Missing Early Matches | Paternity leave — fully fit, joins later in season |
| 15 | Josh Inglis | LSG | Unavailable Early | Getting married in early April — personal commitment |
| 16 | Atharva Ankolekar | MI | Ruled Out | Knee injury |
Team-by-Team Injury Breakdown
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Worst-Hit Team
KKR’s pace bowling unit arguably the biggest strength that powered their 2024 title victory has been completely dismantled by injuries heading into IPL 2026. Harshit Rana, the young India fast bowler, is set to miss the entire season after undergoing knee surgery. The injury happened during India’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up game against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4. Mohammed Siraj was named as his replacement.
Akash Deep is also out for the season with a lower-back stress injury that he failed to recover from in time. He has been replaced by left-arm quick Saurabh Dubey.
Meanwhile, Matheesha Pathirana KKR’s explosive death-bowling weapon is expected to join only from mid-April after a calf strain during the T20 World Cup. The team is not signing a replacement for Pathirana as they hope he will rejoin the squad mid-tournament.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – Defending Champions Sweating
RCB, who won the title last year, face an uncomfortable start with Josh Hazlewood a key part of their title-winning pace attack still sidelined. Hazlewood last played competitive cricket in November 2025, and while he is expected back, he will miss at least the opening two matches of IPL 2026. Cricket Australia is cautiously managing his return ahead of a packed international calendar.
Adding to RCB’s early-season worries, Yash Dayal is ruled out for the entire IPL 2026 season due to a personal situation he is dealing with.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Playing Without Their Captain
SRH begin IPL 2026 without their captain. Pat Cummins is recovering from a lumbar stress (back) injury the same injury that ruled him out of the T20 World Cup 2026. Ishan Kishan has been named stand-in captain, with Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain.
Jack Edwards, a new recruit bought by SRH for ₹3 crore at the 2026 auction, will miss the entire season due to a foot injury denying him his IPL debut entirely. David Payne has been named his replacement.
Additionally, Eshan Malinga son of Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga remains doubtful for much of the season after a shoulder injury during the T20 World Cup.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Double Blow in Pace Department
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed on March 19 that Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after aggravating an old hamstring injury in the domestic One-Day Cup final. Ellis was expected to be a key figure in CSK’s death-overs attack, and his absence is described as a “big blow” by the franchise. Spencer Johnson has been signed as his replacement, although Johnson hasn’t played top-flight cricket since the 2025 IPL, where he suffered a back injury.
Australian all-rounder Matthew Short adds to CSK’s woes, as a fractured thumb will keep him out of the opening matches of the season.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Sam Curran Out for the Season
Sam Curran, the England all-rounder who joined RR in a trade deal with CSK, will miss the entire IPL 2026 season due to a groin injury picked up after England’s semi-final run in the T20 World Cup 2026. Former Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has been named his replacement.
Delhi Capitals (DC) – Waiting on Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is set to miss the start of IPL 2026. Cricket Australia is managing the workloads of their senior pacers including Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood ahead of a demanding international calendar that includes a busy Test season and the 2027 ODI World Cup. Starc’s availability will depend on progress in return-to-play protocols.
DC also lost Ben Duckett, who chose to withdraw from his IPL deal to focus on rebuilding his Test career after a difficult Ashes series.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Lockie Ferguson on Paternity Leave
Lockie Ferguson is fully fit but is prioritising time at home with his family and newborn son before joining PBKS later in the tournament. The New Zealand pacer is expected to link up with the franchise for the latter stages of IPL 2026.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Josh Inglis Out Initially
LSG’s new signing Josh Inglis, bought for ₹8.6 crore, will not be available for the entire season as he is getting married in early April. He is expected to join the squad later in the tournament.
Mumbai Indians (MI) – Atharva Ankolekar Ruled Out
Atharva Ankolekar, MI’s left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a knee injury, robbing the team of a versatile domestic option.
Official Injury Replacements Announced So Far
| Player Out | Team | Replacement | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | KKR | Mohammed Siraj | Knee surgery |
| Akash Deep | KKR | Saurabh Dubey | Back injury |
| Nathan Ellis | CSK | Spencer Johnson | Hamstring |
| Jack Edwards | SRH | David Payne | Foot injury |
| Sam Curran | RR | Dasun Shanaka | Groin injury |
How Does This Injury Crisis Affect IPL 2026?
Injuries before a tournament are not unusual in cricket, but the scale of absentees heading into IPL 2026 is exceptional. Here is what it means for each team and the tournament as a whole:
KKR’s Bowling Unit Is in Crisis Mode
Losing Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and starting without Pathirana means KKR need their domestic bowlers to step up immediately. This could force KKR into using all four overseas spots for batting, or rely on unproven pace options in the first few weeks.
SRH Must Rethink Leadership and Combinations
Losing Cummins (captain), Edwards (debut foreign all-rounder), and having Malinga doubtful puts SRH’s game plan under serious strain. Ishan Kishan as captain is an interesting tactical choice, but SRH begin the season already disadvantaged.
Australia’s Board Is Pulling the Strings
The managed unavailability of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood is not purely about injury it is about Cricket Australia protecting its stars ahead of a packed 2026-27 international schedule. This could become a recurring pattern that affects IPL franchises in future auctions.
Door Opens for Young Indian Talent
The silver lining? Every absence creates an opportunity. Young Indian pace bowlers from domestic circuits and India A — get a real shot at making an IPL mark. Look out for rising IPL 2026 stars who could emerge from this injury-hit season as genuine revelations.
Related Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which IPL 2026 player is ruled out for the entire season?
Harshit Rana (KKR), Akash Deep (KKR), Nathan Ellis (CSK), Sam Curran (RR), and Jack Edwards (SRH) are all ruled out for the full season.
2. Will Pat Cummins play in IPL 2026?
Yes, but he will miss the opening matches. Cummins is recovering from a back injury and is expected to return mid-tournament for SRH.
3. Who replaces Nathan Ellis at CSK?
Spencer Johnson has been signed as his replacement by Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026.
4. Is Josh Hazlewood playing for RCB in IPL 2026?
He is in the squad but will miss early matches. Cricket Australia is managing his return from a hamstring and Achilles issue.
5. Which team is most affected by injuries in IPL 2026?
KKR are the worst hit — they start the season without Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Matheesha Pathirana all unavailable.
