Australian speedsters Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who are part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will miss the start of the 2026 edition of the world’s richest franchise cricket league. According to a report, Hazlewood and Cummins are yet to get official clearance from Cricket Australia medical staff for the upcoming season, but they are expected to play some matches as the season progresses.
It has been reported by the Hindustan Times that the rehab phase is currently underway for the star duo, and there is no chance of them getting fit in time for the IPL 2026 season’s opener between RCB and SRH at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.
“Nothing much has changed from last week. The clearance is still awaited from the physios. The rehab is going on. Both Hazlewood and Cummins won’t be able to make it in time for the opening few matches”, a source Said.
“However, they are expected to play some part in the tournament later on. It all depends on the clearance. As soon as it comes in, they will travel to India”, the source added.
Cummins, who is the captain of SRH, last played a competitive cricket match in December 2025 against England at Adelaide Oval and picked up three wickets in each of the innings. On the other hand, Hazlewood, who topped the wicket-takers list for RCB in the IPL last year, last played a cricket match in November 2025 for his domestic side, New South Wales.
Due to injury-related issues, he didn’t feature in any of the five Ashes Tests and then was excluded from Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad as well along with Cummins.
