Every IPL 2026 Injury & Replacement

Injury Crisis Hits IPL 2026 Before a Ball Is Bowled

IPL 2026 has not even started and the injury list is already staggering. Multiple franchises have been forced into last-minute squad changes as key players drop out due to injuries, international commitments and personal withdrawals. With the tournament opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad set for March 28, teams are scrambling to finalize their squads. From Ben Duckett's shock withdrawal from Delhi Capitals to Yash Dayal being ruled out for defending champions RCB, the pre-season chaos is unlike anything seen in recent IPL history. Several Sri Lankan stars including Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana are still awaiting clearance from SLC, adding further uncertainty.

Complete Injured & Unavailable Players List

Here is every player who has been ruled out or withdrawn from IPL 2026 along with their replacements where confirmed.

Player	Team	Reason	Replacement	Replacement Cost
Ben Duckett	DC	Withdrew (England priority)	TBA	Faces 2-year ban
Yash Dayal	RCB	Injury	TBA	--
Josh Hazlewood	RCB	Injury (early matches)	Available later	--
Akash Deep	KKR	Lumbar stress injury	Saurabh Dubey	Rs 30 Lakh
Jack Edwards	SRH	Foot injury	David Payne	Rs 1.5 Cr
Nathan Ellis	CSK	Injury	Spencer Johnson	Rs 1 Cr
Sam Curran	RR	Ruled out (entire season)	Dasun Shanaka	--
Pat Cummins	SRH	Delayed (late arrival)	Ishan Kishan (stand-in captain)	--
Wanindu Hasaranga	LSG	Awaiting SLC clearance	Pending NOC	--
Matheesha Pathirana	KKR	Awaiting SLC fitness test	Pending NOC	--
Nuwan Thushara	--	Awaiting SLC clearance	Pending NOC	--

Watch IPL 2026 Live - Free Streaming

Get live scores, ball-by-ball commentary and HD streaming for every match

Watch Live Now →

Ben Duckett's Withdrawal Rocks Delhi Capitals

The biggest bombshell came from England batter Ben Duckett who pulled out of IPL 2026 just days before the tournament to prioritize his international career. I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw and it has not been an easy choice, Duckett told the Telegraph while adding that representing England remains his top priority. Under IPL rules players who withdraw after being picked at auction without valid reasons face a ban of up to two seasons. This mirrors what happened with Harry Brook earlier and highlights the league's increasingly strict stance on player availability. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel had already mapped out his squad with Duckett in the top order, and the late withdrawal forces a complete rethink of their batting lineup. In better news for DC, KL Rahul will return to his natural opening position after being used in the middle order last season.

RCB's Bowling Crisis Deepens

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru face the most severe crisis with both Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood unavailable for the start of the tournament. RCB's Director of Cricket Mo Bobat provided an update on both players but the outlook is concerning. Dayal has been completely ruled out while Hazlewood is expected to miss the early matches. This leaves massive gaps in the RCB bowling attack heading into their title defense opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The franchise invested Rs 7 crore upgrading stadium safety with AI-powered cameras and a crowd monitoring system called Jarvis following last year's tragic stampede. RCB will also keep 11 seats permanently vacant during the season and install a memorial plaque to honor the 11 fans who lost their lives.

Sri Lankan Stars in Limbo

A major storyline heading into IPL 2026 is the uncertainty around several Sri Lankan players. While Eshan Malinga has been cleared by SLC to join Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside Kamindu Mendis, three high-profile players remain in limbo. Wanindu Hasaranga of Lucknow Super Giants and Matheesha Pathirana of Kolkata Knight Riders are both yet to complete mandatory fitness tests delaying their arrival. Pathirana was a high-value auction signing and KKR may have to manage without him for the opening matches. Nuwan Thushara's clearance also depends on fitness assessments. Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka have all been approved. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between national cricket boards and IPL franchises over player availability.

Confirmed Replacements and Squad Updates

Despite the chaos several franchises have moved quickly to secure replacements. Kolkata Knight Riders signed left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey from Vidarbha for Rs 30 lakh to replace Akash Deep who is out with a lumbar stress injury. The 28-year-old is yet to make his IPL debut. Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in experienced England pacer David Payne at Rs 1.5 crore to replace Jack Edwards who suffered a foot injury. Payne brings 233 T20 matches and 304 wickets to the table. Rajasthan Royals signed Dasun Shanaka to replace Sam Curran who is ruled out for the entire season. Coach Kumar Sangakkara praised Shanaka as the ideal replacement citing his T20 experience and finishing ability. Meanwhile KKR named Rinku Singh as vice-captain, adding leadership depth to their squad as they prepare for the new season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which players are injured for IPL 2026?

Key injured players include Akash Deep (KKR), Yash Dayal (RCB), Josh Hazlewood (RCB), Jack Edwards (SRH), Nathan Ellis (CSK), and Sam Curran (RR).

Why did Ben Duckett leave IPL 2026?

Ben Duckett withdrew from Delhi Capitals to prioritize his England international career. He may face a 2-year IPL ban for withdrawing after the auction.

Who replaced Akash Deep at KKR?

Saurabh Dubey, a 28-year-old left-arm pacer from Vidarbha, replaced Akash Deep at KKR for Rs 30 lakh.

Are Hasaranga and Pathirana playing IPL 2026?

As of March 24, Hasaranga (LSG) and Pathirana (KKR) are still awaiting SLC clearance and fitness tests. Their availability remains uncertain.