Overview:
The board is prioritising the recovery of its top bowlers as Australia prepare for a busy year ahead.
Mitchell Starc will join Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in delaying his participation in IPL 2026, as Cricket Australia carefully manages the workload of its leading fast bowlers ahead of a packed international schedule. According to cricket.com.au, Nathan Ellis will also miss the IPL season due to a recurring hamstring injury.
Cummins has been absent from international cricket since December 2025, when he played against England in Adelaide, where he claimed three wickets in each innings. The Sunrisers Hyderabad captain also missed the T20 World Cup 2026 because of injury and is focusing on regaining full fitness.
Josh Hazlewood, also recovering from injury, played his last match for New South Wales in November 2025. He was unable to participate in both the Ashes series and the T20 World Cup due to his injury.
Starc played in all five Ashes Tests and the latter stages of the Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers. Cricket Australia is taking a measured approach to manage his workload, as he has bowled a lot of overs in Test cricket.
The board is prioritising the recovery of its top bowlers as Australia prepare for a busy year ahead. Starting in August, Australia will play 21 Tests in just 12 months, including tours to India, South Africa, and a summer Ashes series. Afterwards, they will look to defend their ODI World Cup title in late 2027. The IPL participation of Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins will depend on their recovery in the coming weeks.
Ishan Kishan has been named interim captain for SRH until Cummins returns. Hazlewood, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, won’t be available for their first match against Hyderabad, while Starc, who is a part of Delhi Capitals, will miss their season opener against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.