As the IPL 2026 looms, franchises appear to be sweating over the non-availability of high-profile overseas signings, most of whom are either partially or entirely ruled out of the cash-rich league. Several high-profile players, mainly from Australia and India, are expected to miss out due to injuries as we enter the one-week countdown, acting as a precursor to the start of the inaugural IPL 2026 match.
Confirmed List Of Injured Players Ahead Of IPL 2026
The count of injured players signed up for the forthcoming IPL season is simply staggering. And to make matters worse, that list continues to grow with each passing day. With the first IPL 2026 match slated to take place between RCB and SRK at the M. Chinnaswamy on March 28, it’s all going pear-shaped for the IPL franchises at the moment.
Nearly all 10 franchises are housing at least one injured player and are staring at a possible player shortage ahead of the IPL 2026 kick-off. As of March 21 2026, 8 players, comprising Australian, English, Indian, and Sri Lankan nationalities, are confirmed to be ruled out of the entire season. These include some major names such as Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Wahindu Hasaranga, Jack Edwards, and Akash Deep. In addition, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the participation of the Australian pace-bowling trio Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, all three of whom have been suffering from prolonged injuries.
Full List Of Injured Players Ahead of IPL 2026
| Player Name | Franchise | Ruled Out /Partially Available | Injury Type |
| Nathan Ellis (AUS) | Chennai Super Kings | Ruled Out | Hamstring Injury |
| Sam Curran (ENG) | Rajasthan Royals | Ruled Out | Groin Injury |
| Harshit Rana (IND) | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ruled Out | Knee Ligament Injury/Surgery |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | Lucknow Super Giants | Ruled Out | Serious Hamstring Tear |
| Jack Edwards (AUS) | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ruled Out | Foot Injury |
| Akash Deep (IND) | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ruled Out | Injury Rehab |
| Atharva Ankolekar (IND) | Mumbai Indians | Ruled Out | Knee Injury |
| Matheesha Pathirana (SL) | Kolkata Knight Riders | Partially Available | Calf strain; expected to miss initial games. |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | Delhi Capitals | Partially Available | Missing initial phase due to workload management |
| Josh Hazlewood (AUS) | Set to miss the early phase | Partially Available | Set to miss early phase |
| Lockie Ferguson (NZ) | Punjab Kings | Partially Available | Missing initial games for paternity leave (non-injury) |
| Mayank Yadav (IND) | Lucknow Super Giants | Partially Available | Monitoring a side strain; rehab |
Indian Players In Focus
Amid injury concerns, franchises are racing against time to have their complete squad ready before the start of the monumental IPL 2026 season. Many at the time of the mini-auction had signed some big names with the expectation that such players would stick around with them throughout the entirety of the season. But as injuries pile up one after the other, such a notion is now proving to be a distant reality.
A limited presence of overseas IPL players, mostly Australian, will not only go down as a big blow to the franchises, but will also force them to tinker with the team setup against their will. Fans will also be left in a sorry state of affairs as they will not get the opportunity to see the global T20 stars in action.
However, the spotlight also needs to be shifted to the Indian player base. Overseas players are not the only ones who are currently suffering from the negative consequences of injury. The Indian players, too, have been impacted by injuries, leading many franchises to make forced last-minute replacements. Harshit Rana will continue to watch all the action from the sidelines as he recovers from a knee ligament injury. Akash Deep and Atharva Ankolekar have reportedly suffered injuries to their knees and have been entirely ruled out of the IPL 2026, citing precautionary measures. However, Mayank Yadav of LSG remains under close observation, monitoring a side strain that makes him doubtful for the first few games of the IPL 2026.
SRH has been the worst-affected team amid the injury scare, which has plunged all teams into panic mode ahead of IPL 2026. Cummins, who also happens to be one of their senior pros in this competition, will likely miss the first few games. Eshan Malinga of Sri Lanka is also unlikely to be available as he recovers from a shoulder dislocation. Jack Edwards would have given SRH a solid boost, but he, too, gets ruled out prematurely. Untimely injuries and forced changes have been observed as a recurring pattern for all 10 IPL franchises, with none of them electing a non-Indian captain, something that has never occurred in the history of the IPL.
