The IPL 2026 is just days away, but facing a big injury problem with players who have been ruled out of IPL 2026. Several top players have been hurt during the lead-up, with some ruled out for the whole season and others uncertain.
Teams are allowed to bring in replacements if a player is out for the season. For example, KKR signed Blessing Muzarabani after releasing Mustafizur Rahman. Similar replacements are expected in the next few days because many players are unavailable.
Teams can choose replacements from the Registered Available Player Pool, which has over 1,300 players. Last season, CSK signed Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre as replacements, and Rajasthan Royals did the same with Lhuan-dre Pretorius. These replacements can play a big role in the season.
List of the Top Players who have been Ruled Out of IPL 2026
IPL 2026 is heading into the season with several big players who have been ruled out of IPL 2026 because of injuries.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Jack Edwards, Eshan Malinga, Eshan Malinga
Sunrisers Hyderabad has been hit the hardest. Their captain Pat Cummins has a lower-back bone stress injury and will miss at least the first three matches. Jack Edwards, an Australian all-rounder, won’t play at all this season. Sri Lankan fast bowler Eshan Malinga is also likely to miss the start with a dislocated shoulder. In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan will captain SRH with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy, but losing these players seriously weakens their bowling and overall balance.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Harshit Rana
Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, will miss Indian pacer Harshit Rana for the whole season due to a knee ligament injury. They have signed Zimbabwean bowler Blessing Muzarabani as his replacement. On the brighter side, Matheesha Pathirana, who had a calf and muscle injury, has recovered and will be available, which is important for their death-over bowling.
Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis
Chennai Super Kings will be without Nathan Ellis this season. The Australian fast bowler hurt his right hamstring again after recovering from a previous injury, and he won’t play at all in IPL 2026. This is a big loss for CSK because he was their main death-over bowler, and they are now searching for a replacement.
Rajasthan Royals: Sam Curran
Rajasthan Royals will miss Sam Curran for the entire season due to a groin injury. Curran, who moved from CSK in a big trade, was expected to add power hitting and left-arm pace to the team. His absence leaves a major gap in RR’s playing XI, and they haven’t named a replacement yet.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will start the season without Josh Hazlewood. The Australian bowler is dealing with past hamstring problems and new Achilles discomfort, so he will miss at least the first two weeks. RCB will have to manage their pace attack without him, which will be especially noticeable in the early powerplays.
Lucknow Super Giants: Wanindu Hasaranga
Lucknow Super Giants might start the season without Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan leg-spinner has been struggling with a chronic left hamstring injury. His recovery has been slow, so it’s unclear if he will be ready for the first matches. Hasaranga was bought for ₹2 crore. To prepare for his possible absence, the team has brought in West Indian spinner Gudakesh Motie as a backup.
Other Notable Absences (Non-Injury)
Some big players won’t be in IPL 2026 for reasons other than injury. Andre Russell from KKR has retired from playing in the IPL. He said the league’s intensity as a full-time all-rounder was too much for his body, but he will still work with KKR as their power-hitting coach. Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from all cricket after a tough 2025 season with CSK.
Faf du Plessis isn’t playing because he was released by Delhi Capitals, chose to play in the PSL, and then got a ligament tear in his thumb during SA20, ruling him out of both leagues. Glenn Maxwell was unsold at the IPL auction after being released by Punjab Kings.
Mitchell Starc, playing for Delhi Capitals, is being rested by Cricket Australia to manage his workload. He has bowled more Test deliveries than any other fast bowler in the past year and retired from T20 Internationals. So he will likely miss the start of IPL 2026 to stay fit for future Test matches.
FAQs
Q. Who will Kolkata Knight Riders miss in IPL 2026 due to injury?
A. Harshit Rana will miss the whole season due to a knee ligament injury. Blessing Muzarabani has been signed as his replacement.
Q. Which Chennai Super Kings player won’t play in IPL 2026?
A. Nathan Ellis is ruled out for the season because of a right hamstring injury.
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