Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions in the Indian Premier League (IPL), are also likely to start their tournament without the star pacer Josh Hazlewood, who will miss the first two games as he still recuperates over an injury-prone home summer. The Australian fast had been excluded all through the The Ashes because of a hamstring injury and was later afflicted with an Achilles complication in the process of getting back.
The absence of Hazlewood is a great blow to RCB, who depended on him in their last title winning campaign. He was their best wicket-taker with 22 wickets that include a highly impressive 17.54 average which contributed immensely to the end of the long wait of the franchise winning an IPL trophy.
In the meantime, the other Australian pacer Pat Cummins will also miss the first games with Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH). The SRH captain is continuing to deal with a back issue that recurred and he only played one test in the Ashes which was played in the Adelaide Oval in mid-December. His lack of participation was following his rehabilitation over the problem that he had picked up during the tour of the Caribbean by Australia last year.
Australia Manage Cummins, Hazlewood Workload Amid Packed Calendar
Hazlewood and Cummins were also disqualified of the ICC Men T20 world cup 2026, where Australia suffered an early exit in the group stage. Cricket Australia is still closely keeping a check on their fitness, and it is not yet clear how they might make a comeback to IPL 2026.
These two will be approached with special care by the management of Australia, as the country has an international hectic schedule ahead. The team will have a hectic 16-month program starting in August, which will see some of their significant Test tours to South Africa, India, and England, as well as plans to be made to host the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Hazlewood and Cummins are under intensive control, whereas other Australian players will come to India later this week. However, both pacers are likely to play in a large part of the IPL season provided they become fit before it is too late.
