IPL 2026 Injury Tracker: Unavailable Players and Expected Returns

The 2026 Indian Premier League begins on March 28 under a wave of roster disruptions. Several core players are officially ruled out or unavailable for significant stretches of the tournament. Franchises are actively restructuring their playing combinations ahead of the opening fixture between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Players Ruled Out for the Entire Season

Four franchises face immediate setbacks with personnel confirmed to miss the entire tournament.

• Harshit Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders): The Indian fast bowler sustained an injury during the T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4. His absence severely restricts Kolkata’s domestic pace options.
• Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings): A severe hamstring injury forces Ellis out of the competition. Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the medical update on March 19, leaving a sudden gap in the franchise’s death bowling strategy.
• Sam Curran (Rajasthan Royals): Acquired alongside Ravindra Jadeja in a high-profile trade with Chennai for Sanju Samson, the England all-rounder will not participate due to a groin injury.
• Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Purchased for INR 3 crore at the auction, the Australian recruit will miss his debut season following a foot injury.

Players Missing the Initial Phase

Multiple international schedules and ongoing medical protocols mean several prominent names will miss the opening weeks of competition.

International Workload and Paternity Leaves

Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) will miss the start of the tournament. Cricket Australia is managing his workload following the international calendar, and his return depends on passing strict return-to-play protocols. Lockie Ferguson (Punjab Kings) has been granted paternity leave and will prioritize family time before rejoining the squad for the second half of the season.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad) remains sidelined while recovering from the injury that removed him from the recent World Cup. Ishan Kishan will captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in his absence, with Abhishek Sharma stepping in as vice-captain. Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) continues rehabilitation for an injury that has sidelined him for four months. Matheesha Pathirana (Kolkata Knight Riders), an INR 18 crore auction signing, is dealing with an undisclosed injury with no confirmed return date.

Complete IPL 2026 Unavailability List

For official squad updates and replacement announcements, teams will submit final medical reports directly to the BCCI before the opening weekend. Comprehensive match statistics can be tracked via ESPNcricinfo as the season progresses.