The IPL 2026 season is facing a difficult situation because several overseas players are either arriving late or pulling out just before the tournament. This has created problems for teams only a few days before the season starts on March 28.
Three major Australian fast bowlers – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood – will miss the early part of the tournament. This is mainly because Cricket Australia is managing their workload after a busy international schedule. Cummins and Hazlewood are also returning from injuries, while Starc recently played a full Ashes series and Big Bash games.
At the same time, England batter Ben Duckett has completely withdrawn from IPL 2026 just four days before the start. He said he wants to focus on England cricket and manage his workload, but the timing has caused problems. This is similar to what happened earlier with Harry Brook, who also pulled out late from the same franchise.
IPL rules are strict in such cases. If a player withdraws after the auction, they can face a two-year ban. If this rule is applied, Duckett will miss IPL 2026 and also not be allowed in the 2027 and 2028 auctions. That means he can only return in 2029.
IPL 2026 Overseas Player Issues Grow with Injuries, Personal Absences, and League Clashes
The overseas player issue in IPL 2026 is not just about a few big names. Many other players are also missing matches or arriving late, which is making things more complicated for teams.
New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will miss the early part of the season because of the birth of his child. While this is a personal reason, former cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned the decision, saying players should not miss many matches after committing to a team, especially if they still receive full payment.
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is also unavailable at the start due to injury and is expected to join only around mid-April. England all-rounder Sam Curran has been ruled out completely with a groin injury, and Dasun Shanaka has replaced him in the Rajasthan Royals squad.
At the same time, there is a growing conflict between the IPL and the Pakistan Super League because both tournaments are happening at the same time. Some players have left their PSL contracts to join IPL teams. For example, Blessing Muzarabani moved to Kolkata Knight Riders. And Dasun Shanaka shifted to Rajasthan Royals. Players like Spencer Johnson and Gudakesh Motie are also linked with IPL teams as replacements.
This has created problems for the Pakistan Cricket Board, which is now thinking about banning players for a few years if they leave PSL contracts. A similar case already happened with Corbin Bosch, who was banned after switching leagues earlier.
The IPL itself has made it clear that it will not step in. It has said that franchises must handle these situations on their own.
Sunil Gavaskar Slams Overseas Players for IPL Pullouts and Late Arrivals
Ahead of IPL 2026, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar strongly criticized overseas players. He said some players are not showing professionalism and are taking IPL franchises for granted.
Gavaskar pointed out that franchises spend a lot of time and money building squads, but last-minute withdrawals disturb all planning. He also said many teams go out of their way to support players, even covering family expenses, but some players treat this as their right instead of respecting it.
He clearly mentioned that players who skip IPL for non-injury reasons create unfair situations. According to him, if teams do not take strict action and drop such players, they will keep facing the same problem every season.
This reaction comes at a time when players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are set to miss the early matches. They’ll miss due to workload management by Cricket Australia. Cummins and Hazlewood are also returning from injuries, while Starc recently played a full international schedule.
FAQs
Q. Which major players are missing the start of IPL 2026?
A. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood will miss early matches.
Q. Why did Ben Duckett withdraw from IPL 2026?
A. Ben Duckett pulled out to focus on England cricket and manage his workload.
Q. Can players face a ban for pulling out of IPL?
A. Yes, they can get a two-year ban if they withdraw after the auction without injury.
Q. What did Sunil Gavaskar say about this situation?
A. Sunil Gavaskar said some overseas players are not being professional and are taking IPL teams for granted.
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