With just 12 days to go until IPL 2026 opens on March 28, half the franchises are dealing with significant injury concerns. KKR have the most serious problems — their two most expensive overseas investments are both unavailable or uncertain. RCB, LSG and SRH also have concerns. Here is the most comprehensive IPL 2026 injury update available, covering all 10 teams as of March 16.
See the full IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule and check our IPL 2026 Top Players to Watch.
🔴 KKR — Biggest Crisis in the Competition
Kolkata Knight Riders have the most severe injury situation of any IPL 2026 franchise. Two of their biggest investments are either out or highly uncertain:
Harshit Rana — RULED OUT for entire IPL 2026
Status: OUT ❌ — Harshit Rana, KKR’s best domestic bowler and 2024 IPL title hero (19 wickets), has officially been ruled out for the entire season. He injured his right knee during a warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup and underwent surgery on February 9, 2026. The 24-year-old was spotted on crutches at the BCCI Naman Awards on March 15, collecting the Best International Debut award. His rehab timeline is approximately 3 months — meaning he will not play any part in IPL 2026.
KKR have signed Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement following the release of Mustafizur Rahman. Muzarabani is set to arrive in India on March 17 — giving him just 11 days to acclimatise before KKR’s first match. Read: KKR Signs Muzarabani.
Matheesha Pathirana — Still in Colombo, Highly Uncertain
Status: DOUBTFUL 🟡 — KKR’s second most expensive signing, Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, is currently in Colombo undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury sustained during the T20 World Cup. As of March 16, he has confirmed on Instagram that he has not yet travelled to India. With KKR’s opening match against MI on March 29 at Wankhede, there is serious doubt about whether he will be ready in time. Sri Lanka Cricket has not given a recovery timeline.
Read the full KKR squad: KKR IPL 2026 Squad.
🟡 RCB — Josh Hazlewood on a Knife Edge
Defending champions RCB have a significant fitness concern over their ace Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
Josh Hazlewood — Fitness Doubt
Status: UNCERTAIN 🟡 — Hazlewood took 22 wickets in IPL 2025, playing a crucial role in RCB’s historic maiden title win. However, recurring hamstring and Achilles issues have kept him off the field since then — he missed the Ashes and the T20 World Cup. His presence in IPL 2026 depends entirely on last-minute medical clearance. RCB are monitoring him closely and there is hope he will be available for some matches, but he cannot be considered certain for Match 1 on March 28. Read: Hazlewood and Cummins Fitness Update.
RCB squad: RCB IPL 2026 Squad.
🟡 LSG — Wanindu Hasaranga & Mohsin Khan Doubts
Lucknow Super Giants have two significant concerns heading into the season:
Wanindu Hasaranga — Hamstring Tear
Status: DOUBTFUL for first 2 weeks 🟡 — The Sri Lankan leg-spinner, signed by LSG for ₹2 crore at the auction, tore his hamstring during a T20 World Cup match against Ireland. He is unlikely to play for the first two weeks of the tournament. LSG or SLC has not provided a specific return date.
Mohsin Khan — Knee Surgery Recovery
Status: UNCONFIRMED 🟡 — LSG’s left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan has not played a match since December 2024, having undergone knee surgery in July 2025. He has been in rehab since then and has not been confirmed to play in IPL 2026.
Positive Update: Rishabh Pant & Mohammed Shami Fully Fit ✅
The crucial good news for LSG is that captain Rishabh Pant — the ₹27 crore player the entire franchise was built around — and new signing Mohammed Shami appear to be fully fit and ready for Match Day 1. See: LSG IPL 2026 Squad.
🟡 SRH — Hasaranga Doubtful (on loan from LSG concern)
SRH are actually in excellent shape overall. Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and Pat Cummins have all had a full rest period and are confirmed available for the season opener against RCB on March 28. The only minor concern — Pat Cummins workload management after a heavy year — but he is fit and available. See: SRH IPL 2026 Squad.
🟡 MI — Workload Management
No injuries for Mumbai Indians, but the team will be carefully managing the workloads of three key players who played in the T20 World Cup final on March 8 — just 20 days before IPL 2026 begins: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. All three are expected to be available from game one, but their workloads will be monitored carefully across the 9-week tournament. See: MI IPL 2026 Squad.
✅ CSK — MS Dhoni Knee Rumours DISMISSED
Rumours had circulated that MS Dhoni required knee surgery, but CSK have firmly dismissed these — confirming he is fit for every single game in IPL 2026. This matters enormously because CSK’s entire strategy around the Impact Player rule is built on Dhoni’s availability as a finisher throughout the season. Sanju Samson has also joined CSK’s camp and is fully fit after the T20 World Cup. Read: Is This Dhoni’s Last IPL Season?
✅ RR — Healthiest Squad in the Competition
Rajasthan Royals are in outstanding shape. Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Jofra Archer are all confirmed fit and available from game one. The much-hyped Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also available — he turns 15 on March 27, the day before IPL begins. Read: Suryavanshi’s viral IPL 2026 comments.
✅ DC — Clean Bill of Health
No injury concerns at all for Delhi Capitals. Captain Axar Patel will go into his first match as DC captain with a fully fit squad. See: DC IPL 2026 Squad.
✅ CSK, GT, PBKS — No Major Concerns
Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings are also in good shape with no confirmed injuries. PBKS, as runners-up in 2025, have their full squad available and a point to prove after narrowly losing the final to RCB last year.
IPL 2026 Injury Summary Table
| Team | Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKR | Harshit Rana | Knee surgery (Feb 9) | ❌ OUT all season |
| KKR | Matheesha Pathirana | Calf injury (T20 WC) | 🟡 Still in Colombo |
| RCB | Josh Hazlewood | Hamstring/Achilles | 🟡 Fitness test required |
| LSG | Wanindu Hasaranga | Hamstring tear (T20 WC) | 🟡 Out for first 2 weeks |
| LSG | Mohsin Khan | Knee surgery (Jul 2025) | 🟡 Unconfirmed |
| MI | Atharva Ankolekar | Knee surgery | ❌ Out |
| CSK | MS Dhoni | Knee rumours DISMISSED | ✅ Fully fit |
| RR | All players | No injuries | ✅ Healthiest squad |
| DC | All players | No injuries | ✅ Fully fit |
| SRH | All key players | No injuries | ✅ Fully fit |
Track all team performances from March 28 on the IPL 2026 Points Table. See all squad details on our IPL 2026 Pre-Season Camps Guide.