Sunil Gavaskar Critiques Josh Inglis Over IPL Availability Issues
Gavaskar's Strong Words for Inglis
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his disapproval of Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis regarding his late communication about availability with Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Gavaskar pointed out that Inglis has already received a substantial pay increase compared to his previous contract, questioning how he managed the situation with his former team.
Reports indicate that Inglis notified Punjab Kings just 45 minutes before the retention deadline about his unavailability for most of the season due to his wedding scheduled for April. This late notice led the franchise to release him, despite his impressive performances in IPL 2025. Gavaskar noted that the timing of Inglis's announcement raised eyebrows among former players and fans alike.
During the IPL 2026 auction, Lucknow Super Giants swiftly acquired Inglis for ₹8.60 crore. According to Cricbuzz, the 30-year-old may now be available for more matches than initially anticipated, with rumors suggesting he might forgo his honeymoon to participate in the remainder of the tournament post-wedding. Gavaskar highlighted the irony of Inglis's situation, emphasizing that with such a lucrative deal, he had little reason to miss out on playing.
Inglis himself expressed surprise at being picked up, admitting after Day 1 of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide that he did not expect any bids due to his full unavailability for the season. His astonishment underscored the peculiar circumstances surrounding his release and subsequent signing.
Ness Wadia, co-owner of Punjab Kings, also shared his disappointment regarding Inglis's actions. In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Wadia described the player's last-minute notification as unprofessional. He stated, 'We were informed by him 45 minutes before the deadline that he was getting married and needed time to relax and recuperate. He mentioned he would only be available for a couple of weeks [three games]. We told him he should have informed us earlier. You can’t call someone 45 minutes before and say, ‘Hey, I’m not coming,’ especially when he knew that we were retaining him.'
Punjab Kings had reached the IPL 2025 final, where they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Inglis contributing significantly to their campaign. He scored 278 runs in 11 matches, averaging 30.88 with a strike rate of 162.57. Despite his contributions, the franchise felt it necessary to release him due to his limited availability.