The 19th season of the Indian Premier League will start on March 28. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match. The game will take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, many teams will miss key players in the early part of the tournament. Injuries and workload management have affected several squads.
Big names ruled out or doubtful in IPL 2026
Harshit Rana of Kolkata Knight Riders will miss the entire season. The young pacer had knee surgery. He suffered the injury during a warm-up match before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He was also ruled out of the World Cup. Mohammed Siraj replaced him in the national squad.
Some top Australian players will also miss the first few matches. These include Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. They are being rested to manage workload and recover from injuries.
A few players are ruled out for the full season. Sam Curran is likely to miss the tournament due to a groin injury. Nathan Ellis is also out with a hamstring issue. Jack Edwards will not take part due to an unspecified injury.
Other players may miss early games. Matheesha Pathirana is recovering from a calf strain. Wanindu Hasaranga remains doubtful due to a hamstring injury. Lockie Ferguson will miss a few matches due to parental leave.
Teams will need to adjust quickly. Early matches could test squad depth. Fans will hope to see these stars return soon as the tournament progresses.
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