The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is confirmed to go ahead as scheduled, with franchises having the authority to decide on the involvement of certain overseas players. Some international players are yet to join their teams due to injuries, while others might opt out for workload management reasons. The final decision regarding player participation rests solely with the franchises.
Delhi Capitals are awaiting Cricket Australia’s decision on Mitchell Starc’s participation, as he awaits a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and workload assessment. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will miss Sri Lankan bowler Matheesha Pathirana initially, with Pat Cummins joining late and Ishan Kishan serving as interim captain. Dasun Shanaka is expected to replace Sam Curran for the Rajasthan Royals.
Despite these player availability concerns, the IPL organizers express confidence in a successful start to the tournament, promising a grand spectacle as the 19th edition kicks off on March 28. The league, featuring 10 teams and 74 matches, will commence with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
