UPDATE — March 16, 2026: With just 12 days to go before the IPL 2026 season opener — RCB vs SRH on March 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium — the defending champions are facing a major bowling headache. Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood is yet to receive medical clearance to play, and is still under the supervision of Cricket Australia’s physio team in Sydney.
Making matters worse for the March 28 clash, SRH captain Pat Cummins is in an almost identical situation — also being monitored by physios and racing to prove his fitness before the season opener. See our full RCB vs SRH Opening Match Preview.
Josh Hazlewood — What’s the Injury?
Hazlewood has suffered a devastating run of injuries over the past four months. It started with a right hamstring strain playing for New South Wales in November 2025, which ruled him out of the Ashes. During rehabilitation, he then suffered a fresh Achilles tendon injury, extending his absence further. Just before the T20 World Cup 2026 squad assembled, he picked up a calf injury — missing Australia’s disastrous group-stage exit entirely.
As of today, Hazlewood has not played any form of cricket since November 2025 — over four months. He remains in Sydney under Cricket Australia’s full-time physio care. RCB management have confirmed they are in a “wait-and-watch” mode and will only bring him in once he receives the official green light.
The timing could not be worse. Hazlewood was the single most important player in RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025, taking 22 wickets in 12 matches — a performance that earned him the bowling MVP of the season. His ability to hit the hard length, generate steep bounce at Chinnaswamy and deliver in both the powerplay and death overs was the cornerstone of that championship campaign.
If Hazlewood Misses the Opener — Who Steps Up for RCB?
RCB do have backup pace options in the squad, but none with Hazlewood’s proven IPL pedigree:
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar — experienced, will shoulder extra workload if Hazlewood misses
- Nuwan Thushara — Sri Lanka’s slinger, wicket-taking flair but lacks Hazlewood’s consistency
- Jacob Duffy — reliable New Zealand backup but untested as a primary IPL spearhead
- Yash Dayal — left-arm threat, useful but not a like-for-like replacement for Hazlewood’s pace and bounce
RCB also have Romario Shepherd, Mangesh Yadav and Rasikh Salam Dar as pace options deeper in the squad. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar + Thushara as the overseas pace pair is a significant step down from Hazlewood at his best. Read the full RCB IPL 2026 Squad.
Pat Cummins — SRH Captain Also Facing Race Against Time
SRH face a parallel concern with their captain. Pat Cummins has not played competitive cricket since the third Ashes Test in mid-December 2025 — over three months ago. A long-term stress fracture and back issues have kept him sidelined through the entire Australia summer (bar one Test), the rest of the Ashes, and the T20 World Cup 2026.
“Pat’s situation is the same. The physio is also monitoring him,” a source told Crictoday. Cricket Australia selectors defended the timing, saying both players’ injuries simply didn’t align with the World Cup schedule — and that if fit, both are expected to feature in the IPL.
Cummins’ absence from the SRH camp is a major concern because the franchise specifically built their 2026 squad with young bowling talent that Cummins was expected to mentor and guide. His experience in T20 death bowling and captaincy leadership would be vital against an RCB batting lineup featuring Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar and Tim David. Read the full SRH IPL 2026 Squad.
IPL 2026 Injury Tracker — March 16 Update
| Player | Team | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Hamstring + Achilles + Calf | 🔴 Awaiting clearance |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Back stress fracture | 🔴 Awaiting clearance |
| Harshit Rana | KKR | Knee surgery (Feb 2026) | 🔴 Out entire season |
| Matheesha Pathirana | KKR | Calf injury | 🟡 In rehab, arrives late |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | LSG | Hamstring (T20 WC) | 🟡 First 2 weeks doubtful |
What This Means for RCB vs SRH on March 28
Both the opening match protagonist teams are now facing potential absences of their biggest overseas bowlers. RCB without Hazlewood and SRH without Cummins would be a significantly weakened contest compared to what was originally billed as the perfect season opener — the defending champions hosting last year’s runners-up with two of the best pace bowlers in the world going head-to-head.
On the positive side, both Cricket Australia selectors and BCCI sources remain cautiously optimistic. Australia selectors specifically noted that if recovery continues smoothly, both players should be available for the IPL — saying the missed World Cup was purely a question of timing, not commitment to the tournament.
Fans will be watching closely over the next 12 days. The first training camps begin today as T20 World Cup-winning Indian players join their respective squads (March 16 deadline). Any update on Hazlewood or Cummins clearance will change the complexion of the entire tournament.
Watch the opening match live on JioHotstar and Star Sports. Track all IPL 2026 results on the IPL 2026 Points Table. See the full IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule.