The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, the start of the tournament comes with a twist: several players are either injured or unavailable, forcing franchises to rethink their plans for the opening matches. With the T20 World Cup 2026 wrapping up just a few days ago, many players are still recovering and will join their teams later in the season.
Here’s a rundown of the early absentees and their replacements:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Harshit Rana: The fast bowler is out with a knee injury and is expected to miss the entire IPL 2026. Rana had already been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 due to the same injury.
Akash Deep: Another KKR pacer sidelined with a lower back stress injury. Left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey has been named as his replacement.
Matheesha Pathirana: Awaiting clearance from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) after a shoulder injury cut his World Cup campaign short.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Pat Cummins: The captain is recovering from a lumbar stress injury and will miss the early matches. Ishan Kishan will lead the team in his absence.
Jack Edwards: Australian all-rounder ruled out for the season with a foot injury. David Payne steps in as his replacement.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Sam Curran: The experienced all-rounder is sidelined for the tournament due to a groin issue picked up during England’s T20 World Cup run. Dasun Shanaka has been named his replacement.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Josh Hazlewood: The pacer is awaiting clearance from Cricket Australia after a hamstring injury last November and is expected to miss the opening games.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Nathan Ellis: The Australian fast bowler has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in the domestic One-Day Cup final.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Mitchell Starc: Awaiting clearance from Cricket Australia as they manage his workload ahead of a busy international schedule. Starc will miss the opening matches.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Lockie Ferguson: The New Zealand pacer will skip the early part of the tournament to spend time with his family and newborn son. Ferguson is fully fit and currently playing in the T20I series against South Africa.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Josh Inglis: The Australian wicketkeeper-batter, acquired for ₹8.6 crore, will miss the first part of the season due to his wedding in early April.
Wanindu Hasaranga: The spinner is still awaiting clearance from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) while recovering from a hamstring injury.
The opening weeks of IPL 2026 are shaping up to be a mix of comeback stories, last-minute replacements, and fresh opportunities for domestic and fringe players. Fans can expect some unexpected heroes to step up while the stars recover.