IPL 2026 will begin under the shadow of injuries, with several key players ruled out or set to miss matches across franchises.
Teams are already adjusting their combinations before the tournament starts.
Kolkata Knight Riders lost Harshit Rana for the entire season after he sustained an injury during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match. Chennai Super Kings suffered a double blow as Nathan Ellis pulled out with a hamstring injury and Matthew Short fractured his thumb, ruling him out of the opening games.
Rajasthan Royals confirmed Sam Curran’s absence due to a suspected groin injury. Sunrisers Hyderabad endured setbacks with Jack Edwards ruled out by a foot injury, Pat Cummins missing the opening matches, and Eshan Malinga uncertain after a shoulder dislocation. Ishan Kishan will captain SRH in Cummins’ absence, with Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain.
Mumbai Indians lost Atharva Ankolekar to a knee injury. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will miss Josh Hazlewood in the early phase as he continues his recovery. Punjab Kings will start without Lockie Ferguson, who opted to spend time with his family after becoming a new father.
Kolkata Knight Riders also await the return of Matheesha Pathirana, who is recovering from a calf strain. His availability later in the season remains uncertain.
These injuries have forced franchises to rethink strategies, with replacements and squad depth set to play a crucial role in IPL 2026.
