Mitchell Starc will join Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in missing the beginning of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting on March 28. Cricket Australia is taking a cautious approach towards its fast bowlers due to a busy international schedule. Jack Edwards is also sidelined due to a foot injury.
Cummins has been out of action since December 2025 due to a lumbar bone stress injury. Hazlewood missed the Ashes series because of hamstring and Achilles issues, while Starc, who played in the Ashes Tests and the Big Bash League, is being managed by Cricket Australia due to his workload.
Cricket Australia’s careful strategy is in light of a packed schedule, with up to 21 matches for the Test side in the next 12 months, including tours of South Africa, India, and England, before defending their ODI World Cup title in late 2027. Starc (Delhi Capitals), Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad) will be absent at the start of the IPL, affecting their team’s bowling line-ups.
The trio’s return will depend on their progress in the return-to-play protocols in the coming weeks. Additionally, Sunrisers Hyderabad will also miss Australian allrounder Jack Edwards due to a foot injury. Edwards, signed for Rs 3 crore at the last auction, was set to make his IPL debut this season.
Chennai Super Kings face a setback as pacer Nathan Ellis will miss the competition due to a hamstring injury. Ellis, unable to recover in time, suffered a recurrence of his right hamstring injury from before the T20 World Cup. Several Australians, including Travis Head, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David, are part of IPL rosters for the 2026 season.
