Mitchell Starc is set to miss the start of IPL 2026, joining Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are also unavailable early in the tournament. Cricket Australia is managing the workload of its three premier fast bowlers ahead of a busy international calendar.

The update came on March 20 via cricket.com.au. It follows news that Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a recurring hamstring injury. The issue dates back to the build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026.

Cummins has not played international cricket since December 2025. His last match was against the England national cricket team at the Adelaide Oval. He took three wickets in each innings. He also missed the T20 World Cup due to injury. Since then, he has focused on regaining full fitness.

Hazlewood has also been sidelined. His last appearance came in November 2025 for the New South Wales cricket team. He missed both the Ashes and the T20 World Cup.

Starc played all five Ashes Tests. He also featured in the latter stages of the Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers. He skipped the T20 World Cup after retiring from the format. However, he is being carefully managed after bowling one of the highest workloads in Test cricket over the past year, second only to Mohammed Siraj.

Cricket Australia is taking a cautious approach. Australia is scheduled to play 21 Tests in 12 months starting in August. This includes tours of South Africa and India, followed by a home Ashes series. The schedule continues with the 2027 ODI World Cup. Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood are expected to play key roles there. Their IPL return will depend on recovery progress in the coming weeks.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have named Ishan Kishan as interim captain in Cummins’ absence. Hazlewood’s absence is a setback for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of their opener against Hyderabad. Starc, representing the Delhi Capitals, will miss their first match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.