With IPL 2026 just days away, franchises across the board are scrambling to deal with a growing injury crisis. Several high-profile players have been ruled out — either for the initial phase of the tournament or for the entirety of it — due to a mix of long-term injuries, workload management by national boards, and personal reasons. ESPNcricinfo Here at Match Points Table, we have compiled the complete list of every missing star and their potential replacements.
The Big Three — Australia’s Pace Attack in Tatters
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have joined a growing list of Australian players who will miss part of or the whole of IPL 2026. IPL T20 For cricket fans, this is a massive blow — these are two of the most feared pace bowlers in the world, and their absence significantly weakens the teams that paid enormous sums to acquire them.
Mitchell Starc — Kolkata Knight Riders
Starc, who became one of the most expensive overseas players in IPL history when KKR paid ₹24.75 crore for him in 2024, is likely to sit out the initial games of IPL 2026. IPL T20 KKR will be desperately hoping he recovers in time for the business end of the tournament, but his early absence leaves a significant gap in their bowling attack — particularly in the death overs where he is virtually unplayable.
Josh Hazlewood — Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Hazlewood is also likely to sit out initial games of IPL 2026. IPL T20 This is a huge concern for defending champions RCB, who relied heavily on the Australian pacer during their maiden title winning campaign in 2025. Without Hazlewood leading their pace attack from ball one, RCB’s title defence starts on the back foot.
Pat Cummins
Leading the list of absentees is Pat Cummins, who despite being fit, was reportedly not granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Cricket Australia. ESPNcricinfo This is a decision that will frustrate his franchise enormously — losing your overseas captain before a ball has been bowled is never ideal.
Sam Curran — Rajasthan Royals’ Biggest Blow
Sam Curran has been ruled out for the entire season due to a groin injury. Curran was a key player for RR this year following a trade deal involving Sanju Samson. ESPNcricinfo
This is devastating news for Rajasthan Royals. Curran arrived at RR full of promise after switching from CSK in a high-profile pre-season trade, and his all-round ability — genuine pace with the ball, explosive batting in the middle order — made him one of their most valuable assets on paper. Potential candidates to replace him include Dasun Shanaka from Sri Lanka and Gus Atkinson from England. ESPNcricinfo
Nathan Ellis — Chennai Super Kings
CSK fast bowler Nathan Ellis has aggravated an old hamstring injury and has been ruled out of IPL 2026. IPL T20 Chennai Super Kings are already in rebuilding mode after finishing bottom of the table in IPL 2025 — losing Ellis before the season starts adds another headache to an already challenging campaign.
Jack Edwards — Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH’s Jack Edwards has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a foot injury. IPL T20 His absence adds to the growing list of Australian quick bowlers who have been hit with injuries ahead of IPL 2026. ESPNcricinfo
Lockie Ferguson — Punjab Kings
Ferguson is set to miss the early stages of IPL 2026 for Punjab Kings. IPL T20 The New Zealand quick, one of the fastest bowlers in T20 cricket, is expected to join the squad for the latter stages of the tournament — but PBKS will have to manage without him during the crucial opening weeks when every point counts.
Which Teams Are Most Affected?
| Team | Missing Player | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| RCB | Josh Hazlewood (early games) | High — key pace bowler for title defence |
| KKR | Mitchell Starc (early games) | High — most expensive overseas signing |
| RR | Sam Curran (entire season) | Very High — ruled out completely |
| CSK | Nathan Ellis (entire season) | Medium — already rebuilding |
| SRH | Jack Edwards (entire season) | Medium |
| PBKS | Lockie Ferguson (early games) | Medium |
The Silver Lining
Every injury creates an opportunity. KKR have already moved quickly, signing Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement. ESPNcricinfo The Zimbabwean quick — tall, powerful, and capable of hitting 145kph — is an exciting addition and could prove to be a genuine find for the franchise.
For other teams, the replacement windows give younger and lesser-known players a chance to shine on cricket’s biggest domestic stage. IPL history is full of stories of unknown players stepping in for injured stars and becoming household names overnight.
Final Thoughts
The injury crisis heading into IPL 2026 is unlike anything we have seen in recent seasons. With multiple Australian pacers unavailable and several key overseas players missing, the balance of power across franchises has shifted significantly before a single ball has been bowled.
For RCB fans in particular, the absence of Hazlewood in the opening games adds unnecessary pressure to what should be a joyful title defence. But cricket, as always, finds a way — and IPL 2026 promises to throw up new heroes to fill the void left by those missing.
Stay tuned to Match Points Table for daily updates throughout IPL 2026.
Published by Match Points Table | matchpointstable.com | March 2026