The countdown to IPL 2026 has begun, with just a week remaining until the tournament kicks off. Unfortunately, several players are confirmed to miss part or all of the season due to injuries or other issues, affecting nine franchises. The Gujarat Titans (GT) stand out as the only team with all players available for selection from the tournament's opening match. The 19th edition of this popular T20 league is scheduled to commence on March 28, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) having released the schedule for the first 20 matches.
As fans eagerly await the start of this cricketing festival, here’s a detailed look at the injury status of each franchise:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR will be without Harshit Rana for the entire season due to a knee injury sustained during a warm-up match for the 2026 T20 World Cup against South Africa. Additionally, Matheesha Pathirana is expected to miss the initial phase of IPL but may rejoin the squad by mid-April.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB's Josh Hazlewood is sidelined with an Achilles injury and will miss at least two matches. He has been out of action for an extended period, having missed the entire Ashes series.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
SRH will start the tournament without their captain Pat Cummins, who is dealing with a back injury and also missed the 2026 T20 World Cup. In his absence, Ishan Kishan will take over the captaincy, supported by Abhishek Sharma. Jack Edwards has also been ruled out due to injury.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
MI's Atharva Ankolekar will not participate in his first IPL season due to a knee injury sustained during a Ranji Trophy match. He had joined MI at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Sam Curran will miss his debut season with RR due to injury. The talented England all-rounder was acquired from Chennai Super Kings but will have to wait at least a year to wear the RR jersey.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Mitchell Starc will be absent for the initial matches of IPL as Cricket Australia is managing his workload, ensuring he is rested ahead of the 2026-27 season. DC signed Starc for Rs 11.75 crore.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
CSK will be without Nathan Ellis for the entire season due to a hamstring injury. The franchise expressed their wishes for a speedy recovery for Ellis in an official statement.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
PBKS will miss Lockie Ferguson for the early matches of the T20 league. Although he is fit, Ferguson has opted to take time off to be with his family. He was acquired for Rs 2 crore during the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Josh Inglis will miss the start of IPL due to his marriage. Despite his limited availability, he was highly sought after and joined LSG for Rs 8.60 crore.
