IPL 2026 hasn’t started yet, and the injury list is already massive. At least seven franchises are dealing with fitness concerns heading into the season opener on March 28.
From Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to Sam Curran and Nathan Ellis, multiple high-profile overseas players will miss all or part of the tournament. Here’s the full breakdown of every injured, ruled out, and unavailable player across all ten teams.
Players Ruled Out of IPL 2026 (Full Season)
These players will miss the entire IPL 2026 campaign.
- Harshit Rana (KKR) suffered a knee injury during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa. He underwent surgery on February 9 and won’t return this season. KKR decided against signing a replacement, trusting Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, and Kartik Tyagi to fill the gap.
- Sam Curran (RR) picked up a groin injury after the T20 World Cup semi-final on March 5. He was supposed to debut for Rajasthan Royals following the trade from CSK. Instead, RR lose a key all-rounder before a ball is bowled.
- Nathan Ellis (CSK) re-aggravated a right hamstring injury during the One-Day Cup final in Hobart. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the franchise is actively looking for a replacement, calling it a “big blow.”
- Jack Edwards (SRH) will miss the full season due to a foot injury. His absence weakens SRH’s overseas depth further.
- Atharva Ankolekar (MI) underwent knee surgery in January 2026 after an injury during a Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad.
- Mustafizur Rahman (KKR) was released by BCCI due to rising India-Bangladesh geopolitical tensions. Blessing Muzarabani replaced him.
Players Missing the Start of IPL 2026
These players will join their franchises late.
- Pat Cummins (SRH) hasn’t played since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide (December 2025). His lumbar bone stress injury kept him out of the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan takes over as interim captain. No fixed return date yet.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB) is nursing hamstring and Achilles problems. He will miss at least the first two matches (vs SRH on March 28 and vs CSK on April 5). A possible return around April 10 is expected.
- Mitchell Starc (DC) joins the delayed list as Cricket Australia manages his workload. With 21 Tests planned over the next 12 months, including tours to South Africa, India, and England, CA is being cautious. Starc played all five Ashes Tests and the Big Bash League back-end.
- Lockie Ferguson (PBKS) will miss the first seven matches to spend time with his newborn son. He took a brief paternity leave during the T20 World Cup and now wants a longer break. Ferguson plans to join Punjab Kings for the later stages of the tournament.
Doubtful Players for IPL 2026
- Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG) suffered a left hamstring tear during the T20 World Cup. Over a month later, he still hasn’t recovered. No official clarity from LSG or Sri Lanka Cricket, and some reports suggest he could miss the entire season.
- Eshan Malinga (SRH) dislocated his shoulder during the T20 World Cup against England in February 2026. He remains highly doubtful for the full tournament.
Which Teams Are Hit the Hardest?
SRH takes the biggest hit. They lose captain Cummins for the opening phase, Jack Edwards for the full season, and face uncertainty over Eshan Malinga. That’s three overseas players compromised before the first match.
KKR follow closely with Harshit Rana out for the season and Matheesha Pathirana only recently cleared to play after a hamstring injury picked up during the World Cup.
Meanwhile, RR lose Sam Curran entirely and must rely on Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira as their primary all-round options.
Expect this injury list to keep evolving as the season progresses.
