19th edition of the book Indian Premier League (IPL) few days, but the pre-season buzz has been dampened by a huge wave of injuries and availability issues. The tournament, which will begin on March 28, 2026, is already witnessing a mix of teams with several franchises scrambling to find replacements for their frontline stars. From high-profile Australian pacers to rising Indian talents, medical rooms fill up faster than stadiums.
Players have been suspended ahead of IPL 2026
For these players, the dream of lifting the IPL 2026 trophy ended before the first ball was bowled.
- Harshit Rana (KKR): One of the most significant Indian losses. Rana was recently seen on crutches after undergoing knee surgery following a sprained ligament during the T20 World Cup warm-up in February. KKR have already looked at trials to fill the domestic pacer slot.
- Nathan Ellis (CSK): A big blow to Super Kings’ death-bowling plans. Ellis re-aggravated the injury during last week’s One Day Cup final in Hobart and was officially ruled out.
- Sam Curran (RR): The England all-rounder, who was bought in a big buy from CSK, faces an uncertain recovery period for a groin injury. His absence leaves the Royals short on outfield all-around options.
- Jack Edwards (SRH): The Australian all-rounder was set for his IPL debut after being bought for ₹ 3 crore, but a leg injury forced him out of the entire campaign.
- Atharva Ankolekar (MI): The young Mumbai Indians all-rounder is out for the season after suffering a meniscus tear during the Ranji Trophy.
Note: Mustafizur Rahman will also be unavailable to KKR due to administrative and diplomatic reasons between BCCI and BCB prompting the franchise to sign Zimbabwe’s contract. Blessed Muzarabani as a substitute.
Late arrivals in the upcoming season
Many players will play in their franchises, but not from the first game. Cricket Australia’s cautious workload management means some of the league’s most expensive stars will miss the opening round.
- Pat Cummins (SRH): The SRH captain is still recovering from a back injury. In his absence, Ishan Kishan was appointed as the main captain for the first games.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): Recovering from a mix of hamstring and Achilles problems, Hazlewood is expected to miss at least the first two matches for the champions.
- Mitchell Starc (DC): Starc is retained by CA for the first part of the tournament to manage the workload for the heavy international schedule ahead.
Also READ: SWOT analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR’s report card ahead of IPL 2026
Suspicious stars under the scanner
Several major names are currently racing against time to prove they are fit for the first week.
| Player | Team | Condition/Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Matheesha Pathirana | KKR | Dealing with left leg calf strain; suspicious for openers. |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | LSG | He is undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring tear. |
| Mayank Yadav | LSG | Side voltage monitoring; participation is uncertain. |
| Loki Ferguson | BKS | Missed early games due to paternity leave. |
Also READ: The former batter picks his ideal Chennai Super Kings (CSK) top order for IPL 2026
