IPL 2026 has seen many injuries across teams. Some players are already ruled out and replaced, while others are still waiting for medical clearance or final decisions.
Here is a simple and clear update of all injured players, their teams, and replacements.
Players Ruled Out and Their Replacements
Many teams have already made changes to their squads due to injuries or other issues.
| Injured Player | Team | Issue | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | Kolkata Knight Riders | Knee injury | Navdeep Saini |
| Akash Deep | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lower-back | Saurabh Dubey |
| Sam Curran | Rajasthan Royals | Groin | Dasun Shanaka |
| Nathan Ellis | Chennai Super Kings | Hamstring | Spencer Johnson |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Lucknow Super Giants | NOC issue | George Linde |
| Eshan Malinga | Sunrisers Hyderabad | — | — |
| Lockie Ferguson | Punjab Kings | Personal reasons | — |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Chennai Super Kings | Quadriceps | — |
| Jack Edwards | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Foot injury | David Payne |
| Atharva Ankolekar | Mumbai Indians | Knee injury | Krish Bhagat |
| Ben Duckett | Delhi Capitals | Personal reasons | — |
| Prithivi Raj | Gujarat Titans | — | Kulwant Khejroliya |
| Yash Dayal | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Personal reasons | — |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Kolkata Knight Riders | Withdrawn | Blessing Muzarabani |
| Brydon Carse | Sunrisers Hyderabad | — | Dilshan Madushanka |
| Nuwan Thusara | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | NOC issue | — |
These changes show how teams are adjusting quickly to keep their squads balanced during the tournament.
Key Observations
Some patterns can be seen from the list:
| Situation | Impact |
|---|---|
| Injuries (knee, hamstring, back) | Most common reason for replacement |
| NOC issues | Some overseas players unable to join |
| Personal reasons | Few players unavailable without injury |
| No replacement yet | Teams still deciding |
This shows that teams are dealing with different types of challenges, not just injuries.
Players Waiting for Clearance or Return
Some big players are not ruled out completely. They are still recovering or waiting for approval from their boards.
| Player | Team | Issue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | Delhi Capitals | Shoulder/Elbow | Awaiting update |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | Groin | Under observation |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | Hamstring | Recovery phase |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Kolkata Knight Riders | Hamstring | Awaiting clearance |
| Pat Cummins | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lower back | Waiting for board approval |
These players may return later in the season depending on fitness and permissions.
Injuries are playing a big role in IPL 2026. Teams are constantly changing their squads to stay competitive.
Some teams have already found good replacements, while others are still waiting for updates on key players. The situation can change quickly as new medical reports come in.
Fans should expect more updates as the tournament continues and teams adjust their lineups based on player fitness.
