Here is the complete list of IPL 2026 injured players across all ten franchises ahead of the season opener on March 28. Multiple teams are dealing with significant injury and availability concerns, with at least six franchises — KKR, RCB, SRH, CSK, LSG, and MI — affected by setbacks to key players.
This IPL 2026 injured players tracker will be updated throughout the season as new IPL injury news, replacement updates, and return timelines are confirmed. Below is the full IPL 2026 injury list, followed by detailed breakdowns of every injured, ruled out, or doubtful player and their IPL 2026 player availability status.
Last updated: March 20, 2026
Full IPL 2026 Injury List — All Injured Players Summary Table
The following table provides a quick overview of every IPL 2026 injured player, their status, and IPL 2026 replacement details where applicable. Players who have been ruled out of IPL 2026 are listed first, followed by those missing early matches and those whose availability remains doubtful.
| Player | Team | Injury | Status | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | KKR | Knee (ligament strain) | Ruled out — full season likely | Not seeking replacement |
| Nathan Ellis | CSK | Hamstring | Ruled out — full season | TBC — exploring options |
| Atharva Ankolekar | MI | Knee (meniscus tear) | Ruled out — full season | Not yet named |
| Mustafizur Rahman | KKR | N/A — released (BCCI directive) | Unavailable | Blessing Muzarabani signed |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Back (lumbar bone stress) | Missing early matches | Ishan Kishan (interim captain) |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Hamstring + Achilles | Missing first 2+ matches | Jacob Duffy likely |
| Matheesha Pathirana | KKR | Calf strain | Expected to return mid-season | Not seeking replacement |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | LSG | Hamstring tear | Doubtful — no official update | TBC |
| Eshan Malinga | SRH | Shoulder dislocation | Doubtful — may miss full season | TBC |
| Matthew Short | CSK | Fractured thumb | Doubtful for early matches | TBC |
| Mayank Yadav | LSG | Fitness concern (injury history) | Uncertain | N/A |
| Mohsin Khan | LSG | Knee surgery rehab | Uncertain — no match since Dec 2024 | N/A |
| Sam Curran | RR | Groin injury | Doubtful — may miss full season | TBC |
| Lockie Ferguson | PBKS | NA — Family time | Expected to return mid-season | N/A |
| Jack Edwards | SRH | Foot injury | Ruled out — full season | TBC |
| Mitchell Starc | DC | Managed by CA | Doubtful for early matches | N/A |
Ruled Out of IPL 2026
Harshit Rana — Kolkata Knight Riders
Harshit Rana is the most high-profile name on the IPL 2026 injured players list. The KKR fast bowler underwent knee surgery in February after sustaining a ligament strain in his right knee during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa.
- Injury: Ligament strain, right knee
- When it happened: T20 World Cup warm-up vs South Africa, DY Patil Stadium
- What happened: Pulled out of his run-up twice, bowled one over before leaving the field
- Surgery: Lateral meniscus repair, February 9 — performed by Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai
- Current status: Undergoing rehab under BCCI medical team. Seen on crutches at BCCI Naman Awards on March 16
- IPL 2026 availability: Ruled out for bulk of season, possibly all of it
- Replacement: KKR are not seeking a formal replacement, backing existing pace depth (Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Akash Deep, Kartik Tyagi)
More: Read our full Harshit Rana injury update
Nathan Ellis — Chennai Super Kings
Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a hamstring injury, confirmed by CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan to Sportstar on March 19. The Australian pacer was CSK’s designated death-overs specialist following the departure of Matheesha Pathirana.
- Injury: Hamstring
- When confirmed: March 19, 2026
- Current status: Will not recover in time for the season
- IPL 2026 availability: Ruled out
- Squad impact: CSK left without a specialist death-over bowler. Matt Henry and Jamie Overton expected to fill the gap
- Replacement: CSK exploring options — Gerald Coetzee, Richard Gleeson, and Josh Tongue among potential external signings
More: Read our full Nathan Ellis injury update
Jack Edwards — Sunrisers Hyderabad
Australian allrounder Jack Edwards has been ruled out of IPL 2026. Edwards was set to make his maiden IPL appearance after SRH signed him for ₹3 crore at the auction. But the Jack Edwards foot injury means he’ll miss the season.
- Injury: Foot injury
- Current status: Ruled out. Confirmed by franchise to Cricbuzz
- IPL 2026 availability: Ruled out
- Squad impact: SRH lose a versatile overseas option. This is the third availability blow for the franchise after Pat Cummins (back injury, missing early matches) and Eshan Malinga (shoulder, doubtful)
- Replacement: TBC
Atharva Ankolekar — Mumbai Indians
Left-arm spinning allrounder Atharva Ankolekar has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after tearing his meniscus during a Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad in January 2026.
- Injury: Knee — meniscus tear
- When it happened: January 2026, Ranji Trophy vs Hyderabad (fielding incident)
- Surgery: Performed at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai
- Current status: In rehabilitation, ruled out for full season
- IPL 2026 availability: Ruled out
- Replacement: MI have not yet named a replacement. This would have been Ankolekar’s maiden IPL season after being bought for ₹30 lakh at the December 2025 auction
Sam Curran — Rajasthan Royals
Sam Curran is set to miss IPL 2026 with a suspected groin injury, dealing Rajasthan Royals a blow before their campaign has even begun. The England allrounder was acquired by RR via a trade with Chennai Super Kings last November as part of the deal that sent Sanju Samson to CSK.
- Injury: Suspected groin issue
- Last competitive match: March 5, 2026 — England vs India, T20 World Cup semi-final
- Current status: Set to miss the season. No official timeline for recovery
- IPL 2026 availability: Ruled out
- Squad impact: RR lose an overseas allrounder slot. Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira (traded from DC at base price of ₹1 crore) are the remaining allrounder options
- Replacement: RR exploring options. No name confirmed yet.
More: Read on Sam Curran injury update for IPL 2026
Mustafizur Rahman — Kolkata Knight Riders (Unavailable)
Mustafizur Rahman is not injured but is unavailable for IPL 2026 after the BCCI directed KKR to release the Bangladesh left-arm seamer amid strained geopolitical relations between India and Bangladesh.
- Reason: BCCI directive — geopolitical
- Original price: ₹9.20 crore at IPL 2026 auction
- Replacement: Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) signed. Muzarabani left his PSL deal with Islamabad United to join KKR. He took 13 wickets at the T20 World Cup 2026
More: Read our full analysis on why BCCI were unfair to KKR
Missing Early Matches
Pat Cummins — Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH captain Pat Cummins will miss the opening matches of IPL 2026 due to a lumbar bone stress injury that has kept him out of competitive cricket since December 2025. Ishan Kishan has been appointed interim captain with Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain.
- Injury: Lumbar bone stress, lower back
- Last competitive match: Third Ashes Test, Adelaide, December 21, 2025
- Tournaments missed: Final two Ashes Tests + entire T20 World Cup 2026
- Current status: Cleared by Cricket Australia to travel. Expected to join SRH camp in Hyderabad on March 23
- IPL 2026 availability: Will miss at least the first few matches. No confirmed return date
- Interim captain: Ishan Kishan confirmed. Abhishek Sharma named vice-captain
- First match without Cummins: SRH vs RCB, March 28, M Chinnaswamy Stadium
More: Read our full SRH captain 2026 update
Josh Hazlewood — Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB’s title-winning spearhead Josh Hazlewood will miss at least the first two matches of IPL 2026 as he continues recovery from hamstring and Achilles injuries that have kept him out since November 2025.
- Injury: Hamstring strain (November 2025), followed by Achilles tendon complication during rehab
- Last competitive match: Sheffield Shield for NSW, November 12, 2025
- Tournaments missed: Entire Ashes 2025-26 + T20 World Cup 2026
- Current status: Rehabilitating in Sydney under Cricket Australia medical team. No clearance to travel yet
- IPL 2026 availability: Will miss at least first two matches (vs SRH March 28, vs CSK). Earliest return estimated April 10-11 vs Rajasthan Royals
- Replacement in XI: Jacob Duffy (NZ) most likely, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Nuwan Thushara also in the pace mix
More: Read our full Josh Hazlewood injury update
Mitchell Starc — Delhi Capitals
Mitchell Starc will miss the start of IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals, though he is not carrying a specific injury. Cricket Australia is managing the 36-year-old’s workload after he bowled more balls in Test cricket than almost any other paceman globally over the past 12 months, including all five Ashes Tests this summer.
- Injury: None — workload management by Cricket Australia
- Last competitive cricket: Ashes 2025-26 (played all five Tests) + KFC BBL
- T20 World Cup 2026: Did not participate — retired from T20Is in late 2025
- Current status: Working through Cricket Australia’s return-to-play protocols. Availability depends on progress over coming weeks
- IPL 2026 availability: Will miss at least the opening matches. No confirmed return date
- IPL salary: $2.15 million (₹18.50 crore) at Delhi Capitals
- Replacement in XI: TBC — DC’s pace options include Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, and Dushmantha Chameera
Matheesha Pathirana — Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR’s ₹18 crore signing Matheesha Pathirana is recovering from a calf strain sustained during the T20 World Cup but is expected to feature at some point during IPL 2026. KKR have decided not to seek a replacement.
- Injury: Calf muscle strain
- When it happened: February 16, 2026 — Sri Lanka vs Australia, T20 World Cup, Pallekele
- Current status: Rehab ongoing. Manager posted photo of Pathirana in KKR jersey — positive signal
- IPL 2026 availability: Expected to return during the season, unlikely to be available for opening matches
- Replacement: KKR not seeking one. BCCI rules allow injury replacements until the 12th match if needed
More: Read our full Matheesha Pathirana injury update
Doubtful for IPL 2026
Wanindu Hasaranga — Lucknow Super Giants
The former Purple Cap winner suffered a hamstring tear during the T20 World Cup and remains doubtful for LSG’s IPL 2026 campaign. There has been no official update from either the franchise or Sri Lanka Cricket on his recovery timeline.
- Injury: Hamstring tear
- When it happened: During T20 World Cup 2026
- Current status: No official update. Some unconfirmed reports suggest he could miss the full tournament
- IPL 2026 availability: Doubtful
- Price paid: ₹2 crore at IPL 2026 auction
- Replacement: TBC
Lockie Ferguson — Punjab Kings
The New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is set to miss the early part of IPL 2026 as he takes time off following the birth of his child. Ferguson has prioritised family time and will take a short break from cricket before linking up with Punjab Kings later in the tournament.
- Injury/Reason: Paternity leave (rest period)
- When it happened: Post T20 World Cup 2026
- Current status: Taking a break, expected to join squad later
- IPL 2026 availability: Will miss early matches, likely to return for latter stages
- Price paid: Part of PBKS squad (retained/acquired earlier)
- Replacement: Ben Dwarshuis likely to fill in early stages
Eshan Malinga — Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH’s young Sri Lankan pacer dislocated his shoulder during the T20 World Cup in February 2026. He missed the remainder of the tournament and his IPL availability remains uncertain.
- Injury: Shoulder dislocation
- When it happened: February 2026, T20 World Cup
- Current status: No confirmed recovery timeline
- IPL 2026 availability: Doubtful — may miss entire season
- Replacement: TBC
Matthew Short — Chennai Super Kings
Australian allrounder Matthew Short suffered a fractured thumb, casting doubt over his availability for the early part of IPL 2026. He is expected to join the CSK camp by March 22 but his match fitness remains unclear.
- Injury: Fractured thumb
- Current status: Doubtful for opening matches
- IPL 2026 availability: Uncertain — depends on recovery progress
- Replacement: N/A — expected to recover during the season
Fitness Concerns
Mayank Yadav — Lucknow Super Giants
LSG’s express pacer Mayank Yadav has been plagued by recurring injuries throughout his career. He recently played two warm-up matches for India A but given his injury history, his availability for a full IPL season cannot be taken for granted.
- Current status: Fitness being monitored. Not officially injured
- IPL 2026 availability: Expected to play but workload likely to be managed carefully
Mohsin Khan — Lucknow Super Giants
Left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan has not played a competitive match since December 2024. He underwent knee surgery in July 2025 and has been in rehabilitation since. There is no confirmation that he will be fit for IPL 2026.
- Injury: Knee — surgery in July 2025
- Current status: Long-term rehab. No match fitness
- IPL 2026 availability: Uncertain
IPL 2026 Injury Updates — Team-by-Team Summary
Here is a team-by-team breakdown of all IPL 2026 injured players and their current status. This section captures the latest IPL 2026 injury updates from every franchise.
Kolkata Knight Riders: The hardest-hit franchise. Harshit Rana ruled out, Matheesha Pathirana doubtful for early matches, Mustafizur Rahman released. Blessing Muzarabani signed as Mustafizur’s replacement. KKR not seeking further replacements.
Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis ruled out with a hamstring injury. Matthew Short doubtful with a fractured thumb. CSK actively exploring replacement options for Ellis.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Captain Pat Cummins missing early matches with a back injury. Jack Edwards ruled out before his maiden IPL appearance. Eshan Malinga doubtful with a shoulder injury. Ishan Kishan appointed interim captain. SRH enter the tournament with three availability concerns in their squad.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood missing at least the first two matches. Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar expected to lead the pace attack in his absence.
Lucknow Super Giants: Wanindu Hasaranga doubtful with a hamstring tear. Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan both carrying fitness concerns. LSG’s bowling depth is under significant strain.
Mumbai Indians: Atharva Ankolekar ruled out after knee surgery. Replacement not yet named.
Rajasthan Royals: Sam Curran ruled out with a suspected groin injury before playing a single match for the franchise. Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira are the allrounder options. RR exploring replacement signings.
Punjab Kings: The unavailability of Lockie Ferguson for first few games is a big blow for Punjab Kings as he was set to be one of the four first-choice overseas picks.
Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc will miss the opening matches under Cricket Australia’s workload management plan. Not injured but being carefully managed ahead of a heavy international schedule. DC’s pace attack will lean on Mukesh Kumar and T Natarajan early on.
Gujarat Titans: No major injury concerns reported ahead of IPL 2026.
This IPL 2026 injured players list will be updated as new information becomes available throughout the season. Bookmark this page as your go-to IPL 2026 injury tracker for the latest injury news, replacement updates, and return timelines across all ten teams.
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