Australia’s premier fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the opening matches of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with Cricket Australia managing their workloads ahead of a demanding international schedule.
Starc, who represents the Delhi Capitals, and Hazlewood, part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are among several Australian players unavailable for the early phase of the tournament. The move comes as Australia prepare for an intense period of Test cricket, with up to 21 matches scheduled between August 2026 and July 2027.
Both bowlers have had contrasting recent workloads. Starc featured heavily during Australia’s 4-1 Ashes triumph, claiming 31 wickets and earning Player-of-the-Series honours, before also appearing in the Big Bash League. In contrast, Hazlewood has struggled with injuries, missing the entire Ashes due to hamstring and Achilles issues, and only returning briefly in white-ball cricket.
Their absence adds to a growing list of Australian players affected ahead of IPL 2026. Pat Cummins is already set to miss the start of the tournament for Sunrisers Hyderabad due to a back injury, while Nathan Ellis has been ruled out with a hamstring problem. Jack Edwards will also miss the entire season.
The IPL, which begins on March 28, will now see franchises adjust their plans in the absence of several key Australian quicks. For Cricket Australia, however, the priority remains ensuring their fast-bowling core is fully fit for the challenges ahead, even if it means limiting their involvement in one of the world’s biggest T20 leagues.
