The Australian “Pace Trio” has hit a massive roadblock just days before the IPL 2026 kickoff. With Cricket Australia prioritizing a grueling 12-month international schedule, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood are all set to miss the opening stages of the tournament, leaving multiple franchises in a lurch.
The Delhi Capitals have been dealt a significant blow as star pacer Mitchell Starc is set to miss the start of the IPL 2026 season, beginning March 28.
Following in the footsteps of teammates Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, Starc’s absence comes as Cricket Australia (CA) adopts a ultra-cautious “workload management” strategy. Having bowled more deliveries in Test cricket than any other fast bowler over the last year—including a full Ashes tilt—Starc is being preserved for Australia’s upcoming tours of South Africa, India, and England.
The injury bug hasn’t stopped with the big three. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is facing a double crisis; not only is their captain Pat Cummins out due to a lingering lumbar bone stress injury, but newly signed Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards has also been ruled out with a foot injury. In a surprise leadership pivot, SRH has named Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan as captain for the initial matches, including their season opener against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO KS Viswanathan confirmed on Thursday that pacer Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the entire competition. Ellis suffered a recurrence of a right hamstring injury, adding to the growing list of Australian casualties. As the tournament approaches, franchises are now racing against time to activate return-to-play protocols, while fans wait to see when—or if—the world’s premier fast bowlers will join the 2026 campaign.