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Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have dealt a big blow with just two days to the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. As per a report by Newswire, RCB's star pacer Nuwan Thushara in reportedly all set to miss the IPL 2026 as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has denied him the required No Objection Certificate to feature in the glitzy league.
Nuwan Thushara set to be ruled out of IPL 2026
This decision follows the implementation of a rigorous new fitness policy by the national board, which now serves as a primary gatekeeper for players seeking to join overseas franchise leagues.
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The new regulations mandate that all players must successfully pass a series of physical performance tests to qualify for clearance. Thushara’s participation in the IPL was explicitly tied to these results, with SLC maintaining a firm stance that no exceptions would be made regardless of a player's standing or the league in question. Unfortunately, reports indicate that Thushara failed to meet the required fitness benchmarks during his evaluation. As a result of falling short of the necessary points, he is now at risk of losing his lucrative contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which is valued at approximately INR 1.6 crore.
Too much happening for Nuwan Thushara
Thushara's career trajectory has faced several hurdles recently. Despite being a core member of the bowling unit during the 2025 Asia Cup, Thushara subsequently lost his spot for the T20 World Cup. His absence from recent squads, even when the national team was grappling with a string of injuries to other fast bowlers, has raised serious questions regarding his current standing within the national hierarchy.
While sources within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) clarify that Thushara is not currently sidelined by a physical injury and remains capable of bowling in match conditions, the board remains unsatisfied with his general conditioning. By prioritising long-term physical standards over immediate availability, the selectors have signaled a firm commitment to their new policy, refusing to grant exemptions for players who fall short of the required benchmarks.
This strict approach has been applied across the board, leaving no room for compromise. While Thushara faces a missed opportunity in the IPL, several of his teammates have already successfully navigated the new requirements. Players such as Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendis have all cleared their fitness tests and received the necessary clearance to join their respective franchises.
In a notable departure from the standard protocol, Kusal Janith Perera was granted clearance to participate in the Pakistan Super League without being subjected to the mandatory fitness tests. Sri Lanka Cricket justified this exception by indicating that Perera is not currently factored into the national team's future selection plans.
Meanwhile, RCB will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium on Bengaluru
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