Aakash Chopra Critiques Lockie Ferguson's IPL 2026 Decision

Chopra Questions Ferguson's Timing in IPL 2026

Aakash Chopra has expressed his concerns regarding Lockie Ferguson's decision to partially withdraw from IPL 2026. He believes that returning after seven matches may not benefit the Punjab Kings (PBKS), especially if the team struggles in the early part of the season. Ferguson has opted to miss the beginning of the tournament to spend time with his newborn son. The pacer was acquired by PBKS for his base price of Rs 2 crore during the IPL 2025 mega-auction but only participated in four matches before being sidelined due to injury.

Chopra stated on his YouTube channel, “It’s commendable to prioritize family time, and I fully support that. However, if you commit to a team and then leave for seven matches, it raises concerns. Teams need to recognize that this could be detrimental.” He further added, “Coming back after such a long absence and taking a pro-rata payment doesn’t seem logical if the team’s performance has already suffered.”

Punjab Kings are set to begin their IPL 2026 journey against the Gujarat Titans on March 31, followed by a match against the Chennai Super Kings on April 3. After finishing as runners-up in IPL 2025, they will also face Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6 and 11, respectively. The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to commence on March 28.

In a similar situation, Mitchell Starc will also miss the start of IPL 2026, although he is not injured. Cricket Australia is managing his workload ahead of the 2025-26 season. Starc was signed by Delhi Capitals for Rs 11.75 crore during the IPL 2025 mega-auction and was previously the highest-paid player in the IPL 2024 mini-auction, joining Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 23.75 crore.