IPL 2026 - Full List of Injured and Unavailable Players featuring Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc

Cricket

Full List of Injured & Unavailable Players For IPL 2026

March 22, 2026

IPL 2026 is set to begin with several teams dealing with injury setbacks. Many players have been ruled out of some or all matches due to fitness concerns.

The packed T20 calendar has taken a toll on players. The 2026 T20 World Cup ended just weeks ago. Some players also featured in other franchise leagues at the start of the year.

Over the last few years, T20 cricket has been intense. Frequent T20Is and league matches have increased workload. Injuries have followed as a result.

It has been noticed that frequent injuries occur to fast bowlers which then rules them out for long durations. Hence their workload management becomes an absolute key.

Here is the full list of unavailable and injured players for IPL 2026.

KKR Face Multiple Injuries Before IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders are the worst affected team so far. They have multiple fast bowlers unavailable.

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by KKR in January after a directive from the Indian cricket board.

Harshit Rana will miss most of the season. The India fast bowler is recovering from knee surgery. He had already missed the 2026 T20 World Cup due to the same. No replacements were named for Rahman and Rana.

Akash Deep celebrating a wicket for LSG during IPL 2025

But now, Akash Deep is also ruled out due to a lower-back stress injury. He failed to recover in time for the IPL 2026 season, joining the team from LSG during the auction. Vidarbha pacer Saurabh Dubey wil replace him in the side. Dubey was previously part of the SRH squad but is yet to make his IPL debut.

Matheesha Pathirana will join the squad only from mid-April. He suffered a calf strain during the T20 World Cup 2026. He joined KKR from CSK.

SRH Without Their Skipper

SunRisers Hyderabad will miss their captain Pat Cummins in the early phase.

Cummins is recovering from a lumbar stress issue in his back. He is expected to return midway through the tournament. He played only one Ashes Test and missed the entire T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan is set to lead the side during his absence.

IPL 2026 Auction - Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc two of the most expensive IPL auction buys — Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc pose for a picture during IPL 2024

Jack Edwards is ruled out of the entire season. The Australia allrounder has a foot injury.

Eshan Malinga is awaiting a fitness NOC from the Sri Lanka board where he is recovering.

DC Affected Due to Starc’s Workload

Mitchell Starc is likely to join Delhi Capitals later in the season, missing the initial matches.

He played all 5 Tests in the Ashes. Cummins and Hazlewood were unavailable during that period. Cricket Australia is monitoring his workload ahead of a busy schedule.

RR Lose Key Allrounder For IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals will be without Sam Curran for IPL 2026. He joined RR from CSK in a trade.

The England allrounder is ruled out of the entire season. He is suspected to have suffered a groin injury after England’s run to the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

RCB Await Main Bowler’s Return

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will miss Josh Hazlewood in the early matches. The Aussie was a key bowler for RCB during their title-winning last season.

Pat Cummins & Josh Hazlewood included in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad — Pat Cummins & Josh Hazlewood missed the Champions Trophy in 2025 but returned for WTC Final

The Australia pacer has been out of action for months. He missed the entire Ashes and then the 2026 T20 World Cup. He is still recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries.

CSK Face Early Setbacks For IPL 2026

5-time champions Chennai Super Kings also have injury concerns.

Nathan Ellis is ruled out after aggravating an old hamstring injury. The injury occurred during the domestic One-Day Cup final.

Matthew Short is expected to miss the initial matches due to a fractured thumb.

PBKS To Miss Pacer

Last season’s runner ups will miss Lockie Ferguson during the early part of IPL 2026.

He has chosen to stay home with his family and newborn son. The Kiwi pacer is otherwise fit.

LSG Wait On Hasaranga’s Fitness

Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the opening games for Lucknow Super Giants.

T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka and New Zealand allrounders ruled out — Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga celebrating a wicket against New Zealand in Nov 2024

The Sri Lankan allrounder has a hamstring injury. He also missed the recent T20 World Cup. His No Objection Certificate (NOC) depends on fitness test results.