Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), face a big selection headache ahead of their IPL 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28. The franchise will be without three key fast bowlers for the match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. While Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood has arrived in Bengaluru, he has been ruled out of the first game due to ongoing fitness concerns. Additionally, left-arm pacer Yash Dayal is set to miss the entire 2026 season as he manages a personal situation, and Sri Lankan speedster Nuwan Thushara has yet to join the squad.
Hazlewood, Thushara, Dayal, Cummins to miss RCB vs SRH clash
Thushara’s absence stems from administrative and fitness hurdles; although he was a key retention for RCB following his ₹1.60 crore signing in 2025, the Sri Lankan cricket board has denied him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) after he failed a recent fitness test. He will have the opportunity to clear this requirement in a follow-up test, but protocol mandates a waiting period of four to five days before he can attempt it again.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad are dealing with their own major setback, as they will take the field without their captain and star pacer, Pat Cummins. Despite having landed in India to join the SRH camp, the Australian Test and ODI captain is still working toward full match fitness. His absence leaves a significant void in the leadership and bowling department for the 2016 champions.
The outlook for Cummins appears to be a long-term concern for the Hyderabad franchise. Retained for a staggering Rs 18 crore, the veteran bowler has acknowledged that he is likely to miss the entire first half of the IPL 2026 season. Both teams will now have to dig deep into their bench strength to navigate these high-profile absences in what promises to be a massive opening contest.
Ishan Kishan leads SRH pack in Cummins' absence
With Cummins sidelined, Sunrisers Hyderabad have turned to wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan to lead the squad during the opening stages of IPL 2026. While Kishan has no prior experience captaining a franchise in the IPL, he was officially named temporary captain two weeks ago, with the world's top-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma, serving as his deputy.
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The decision to elevate Kishan over Abhishek, despite Ishan having only spent one season with the franchise, was heavily influenced by his recent success in domestic cricket. Kishan recently led Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2025, punctuating that achievement with a brilliant century in the final. This leadership pedigree at the domestic level convinced the SRH management that he was the right choice to steer the ship in Cummins' absence.