IPL 2026 Kicks Off: Key Players Missing in Opening Clash

The 2026 Indian Premier League is set to begin with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, both teams will be without key players, including SRH's captain Pat Cummins and RCB's Josh Hazlewood. Cummins is recovering from a back injury, while Hazlewood is not yet fit to play. This opening clash promises excitement despite the absence of these star players, as both teams look to make a strong start to the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 28, 2026, 18:32 IST

IPL 2026 Begins with a Bang

The highly anticipated 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on Saturday, March 28, featuring a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, both teams will be without some of their star players for this opening encounter. SRH will be missing their captain Pat Cummins, while the defending champions, RCB, will not have Josh Hazlewood available.

Despite joining their respective teams over the weekend, neither player will be part of the starting lineup. Cummins arrived in India earlier this week, and Hazlewood joined RCB's training camp on March 26. In Cummins' absence, Ishan Kishan will take the reins for SRH, while Jacob Duffy is expected to fill in for Hazlewood.

Reasons for Player Absences

Pat Cummins is sidelined due to a back injury sustained last year during Australia's tour of the West Indies. He recently shared that he aims to return for the latter part of the tournament and the playoffs. 'I'm still recovering from a back injury, but it's good. I'm back bowling in the nets. The IPL is starting soon. I won't make the start of that, but it shouldn't be too long before I'm back out there playing. We've mapped out a plan to get me right by the middle of the tournament,' Cummins stated during a conversation with the Business of Sports Podcast.

Meanwhile, RCB's head coach Andy Flower expressed optimism regarding Hazlewood's fitness. 'Hazlewood arrived yesterday. He's looking fit. I did comment to him that he looks even younger than I remember him, so he's enjoyed some good downtime, but he's worked hard to get himself back up to full fitness. He won't be ready for tomorrow, because he's just got off the plane, and we'll be monitoring his fitness very closely,' Flower mentioned in a pre-match press briefing.

Both players missed the T20 World Cup due to their injuries, with Hazlewood also absent from the entire Ashes series and last participating in a competitive match in November. Cummins, on the other hand, played only one of the five matches in the Test series against England.