The 19th IPL starts on March 28. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru play Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match. Many players are already injured. More than 15 players are out or not fully fit. Australia’s main fast bowlers are all injured. Teams are now looking for replacement players. The problem is close to the tournament start. This injury situation may change how the whole season goes.
We’re going to look at who’s missing, why they’re gone. And if the new guys can actually fill those massive shoes.
The Scale of the Problem
The IPL 2026 season starts with a big injury problem. More than 15 players are already out or not fully fit before the first match on March 28. The short gap after the T20 World Cup 2026 has made things worse. Players have had little time to recover.
The biggest blow is to Australia’s fast bowling group. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc will all miss the start of the season. This leaves major gaps in several teams that depend on them for early wickets.
Franchises are now forced to find replacements quickly. Captains also need to change their plans before the tournament even begins.
Australian Trio on the Sidelines
Three major Australian fast bowlers are missing from the start of IPL 2026, and each team is feeling it.
Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) is recovering from a shoulder and elbow injury picked up in the BBL final. He is doing rehab and is expected to miss a few more matches. His return could come around late April. DC sees him as a key bowler who can change games.
Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad) is dealing with a back stress injury. He has not played since the Adelaide Test. He is training lightly and may return in the second half of the season. SRH will continue with stand-in captain Ishan Kishan.
Josh Hazlewood (Royal challengers bengaluru) has been out since November due to hamstring and Achilles issues. He missed the opening matches of IPL 2026 (including matches against SRH on March 28 and CSK on April 5) to ensure full fitness. He has now returned after rehab in Australia.
| Player | Team | Injury/Reason | Status | Expected Return |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Back Injury | Partial | Late April 2026 |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Hamstring/Achilles | Partial | Returned, managed |
| Mitchell Starc | DC | Shoulder/Elbow | Partial | TBD |
| Sam Curran | RR | Groin Injury | Full season out | — |
| Nathan Ellis | CSK | Hamstring | Full season out | — |
| Jack Edwards | SRH | Foot Injury | Full season out | — |
| Harshit Rana | KKR | Knee Surgery | Full season out | — |
Ruled Out for the Entire Season
IPL 2026 has already lost several players even before the first ball is bowled. Five names are ruled out for the full season due to injuries picked up during or after the T20 World Cup.
Sam Curran (Rajasthan Royals) is out with a groin injury that worsened during the World Cup. Scans showed damage that needs long recovery. RR replaced him with Dasun Shanaka.
Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) is also out after a hamstring injury returned during a domestic final. He needs months of rehab. CSK brought in Spencer Johnson as cover.
Harshit Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders) suffered a knee ligament injury during a warm-up game. He had surgery and will miss the season. Navdeep Saini joins as replacement.
Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) is out with a foot injury before his IPL debut. Akash Deep (KKR) is also ruled out with a lower-back stress injury and is in rehab at the BCCI centre.
Sam Curran and the Sanju Samson Trade Angle
Before IPL 2026, CSK and RR made a big three-player trade. Sanju Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings. Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran went to Rajasthan Royals. CSK said letting go of Jadeja and Curran was a very tough call. Jadeja had been with them since 2012 and helped win multiple titles.
But the move turned unlucky for Curran. He picked up a groin injury during the T20 World Cup and was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season. He never played a single match for RR after the trade. Curran said it was painful to miss the season, especially after joining a new team.
Overseas Stars Missing Early Matches
IPL 2026 has also seen several overseas stars miss the start of the season due to injuries or personal reasons. This has forced teams to reshuffle early plans.
- Lockie Ferguson (PBKS) will miss around seven matches due to family reasons after the birth of his child. He is expected to join the squad later in the season. His absence has raised questions about squad balance in the early phase.
- Matheesha Pathirana (KKR) had a calf strain during the T20 World Cup. He has now joined the squad but will not play immediately as he builds match fitness.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG) is ruled out due to a hamstring injury. He has not played since February and has been replaced by George Linde.
- Matthew Short (CSK) is out for the opening games with a fractured thumb but should return in the second half.
- MS Dhoni (CSK) is also missing the first two weeks due to a calf strain. He will sit out at least four matches before returning.
The Replacement Playbook — Who Is Stepping In
IPL 2026 has seen many injury changes. So teams are quickly bringing in replacements. These players may not be the original picks. But they now have big roles.
Blessing Muzarabani (KKR) comes in for Mustafizur Rahman. The tall Zimbabwe pacer joins after a strong T20 World Cup. He even left a PSL deal to join KKR. His height and bounce make him a key powerplay option.
Spencer Johnson (CSK) replaces Nathan Ellis. He is an Australian left-arm pacer but is also returning from a back injury. He will join CSK once fully fit, around late April.
Dasun Shanaka (RR) steps in for Sam Curran. He is a Sri Lankan all-rounder known for finishing games. RR sees him as a like-for-like replacement in the middle order.
Navdeep Saini (KKR) replaces Harshit Rana. He brings IPL experience and pace. Saurabh Dubey also joins KKR for Akash Deep after a back injury rule-out.
David Payne (SRH) replaces Jack Edwards. The English seamer adds experience with over 300 T20 wickets.
These replacements may not be star names. But they will shape early IPL 2026 results.
| Replacement Player | Team | Replaces | Fee |
| Blessing Muzarabani | KKR | Mustafizur Rahman | ₹75 Lakh |
| Spencer Johnson | CSK | Nathan Ellis | ₹1.5 Cr |
| Dasun Shanaka | RR | Sam Curran | ₹2 Cr |
| Navdeep Saini | KKR | Harshit Rana | ₹30 Lakh |
| Saurabh Dubey | KKR | Akash Deep | ₹30 Lakh |
| David Payne | SRH | Jack Edwards | ₹1.5 Cr |
| Kulwant Khejroliya | GT | Prithviraj Yarra | ₹30 Lakh |
The Muzarabani Effect — IPL Poaching PSL Stars
The 2026 IPL season has seen a clear pattern. Players are leaving PSL deals late and joining IPL teams instead. This has created tension between the two leagues. This also led to strict action from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The main example is Blessing Muzarabani. He was linked with Islamabad United in the PSL. But he pulled out and joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement player. Soon after, Dasun Shanaka left Lahore Qalandars to join Rajasthan Royals. Spencer Johnson also moved from Quetta Gladiators to Chennai Super Kings. These late changes have upset the PSL setup.
The PCB reacted strongly in Muzarabani’s case. He was banned from the PSL for two years. The board said he broke trust and failed to honour his commitment. Muzarabani’s side argued there was no signed contract, only discussions. The PCB still stood by its decision and warned of action against others too.
On the field, Muzarabani has already made a big impact for KKR. He took 4 wickets against Sunrisers Hyderabad and helped restrict a big total. His performance quickly made him an important part of the team. Money is a major reason behind these moves.
SWOT Analysis — How Teams Are Coping
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
SRH are dealing with Pat Cummins missing early games due to injury. Still, the team has stayed stable under stand-in leadership.
Strength: Ishan Kishan has handled captaincy well.
Weakness: Losing Cummins early has hurt their bowling leadership.
Opportunity: Young Indian players are getting more chances and are performing well.
Threat: Cummins returning late may affect knockout matches.
SRH are still missing their main leader in key moments.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB started the season without pacers but have still performed well.
Strength: Josh Hazlewood is back and already making an impact again.
Weakness: Hazlewood has missed games and is being carefully managed.
Opportunity: Bhuvneshwar Kumar is leading the bowling well and covering early overs.
Threat: Any new injury in the pace attack could weaken them quickly.
RCB are doing well, but the concern is bowling depth.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
DC have done well even without Mitchell Starc playing so far.
Strength: Their batting lineup has been strong.
Weakness: No Starc means weak death bowling.
Opportunity: Starc’s return could boost the team in the second half.
Threat: Delayed return could leave them short in the playoff race.
DC are surviving on batting strength, but they still wait for their biggest bowler.
The Bigger Question — Are IPL Contracts Worth It
The IPL is the richest T20 league in the world. But the 2026 season has raised a simple question. Are these big overseas contracts really worth it for teams?
Many franchises are spending crores on foreign stars. But several of them are not fully available for the season. Some are injured. Some are managing workload. Some are missing matches for personal reasons. This leaves teams short at key moments.
The issue became louder after comments from Aakash Chopra. He pointed at Lockie Ferguson, who will miss the first seven matches for family reasons. Chopra questioned the idea of paying full money when a player joins halfway through the season. He said teams can lose their campaign before the player even arrives.
Others also raised concerns. Sunil Gavaskar said franchises spend heavily and even support players off the field, but do not always get full commitment in return.
There are already some rules. Players who skip an IPL season after being picked can face bans. But there is still a gap. Many players are only partially available and still earn big money.
Some suggest stricter rules. Like minimum match requirements or payment cuts for long absences. But that would need agreement from boards and players.
What to Watch as IPL 2026 Progresses
The IPL 2026 season is now moving into a key stage. The playoff race is tight, and a few big storylines will shape what happens next.
Pat Cummins’ return for SRH is the biggest one. He is expected back around April 25 after a long injury break. SRH have managed well without him. But his comeback could change their season quickly.
Mitchell Starc is still missing for DC. They have done well without him, but their bowling still feels incomplete. His return could push them into stronger playoff contention.
Blessing Muzarabani has been a surprise star for KKR. His 4-wicket spell showed his value, and he is now a key player for them. Dasun Shanaka is another important name for RR. He brings power in the middle order and can change games fast.
Final Words
The 2026 IPL season has already seen many ups and downs. Injuries are affecting matches more than anything else.
The main issue is the tight calendar. The T20 World Cup finished just before the IPL started. And many picked up injuries like hamstring, back, and calf problems. Big names like Sam Curran, Harshit Rana, and Wanindu Hasaranga have missed out.
Another issue is overseas player availability. Players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood have missed games. Teams that paid big money are now using backup players.
There is also tension between leagues. Some players left PSL contracts to join IPL teams. This has caused bans and disputes. PBKS, RCB, and RR are doing well. But the middle table is very close. Every match is important now.
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