Thushara ruled out of IPL 2026 after SLC denies NOC as RCB lose third pace option in two weeks
Thushara, bought by RCB for 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction and retained ahead of this season, fell short of the fitness benchmarks SLC introduced earlier this year. Under the new policy, every Sri Lankan cricketer must pass a set of physical performance tests before receiving clearance to play in overseas franchise leagues.
Other Sri Lankan players, including Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis, all passed and received their NOCs without issue.
Three pace bowlers gone before ball one
The Thushara blow comes on top of two others. Josh Hazlewood is still working through a return-to-play programme after hamstring and Achilles problems picked up last year. He arrived in Bengaluru on March 26 and has linked up with the squad, but is expected to miss the opening fixtures while he completes his rehabilitation. There is no confirmed date for his first appearance.
Yash Dayal, who took 13 wickets across 15 matches in RCB's title-winning 2025 campaign, will also miss the entire season. RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, confirmed on March 24 that Dayal would not be joining the squad due to a "personal situation".
That leaves RCB heading into Saturday's opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a seriously thinned-out pace unit.
Who fills the gap?
Jacob Duffy, the New Zealand seamer who won three awards at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards this week, is expected to shoulder the new-ball duties in Hazlewood's absence. Bhuvneshwar Kumar brings experience to the group, and Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh and Romario Shepherd offer different options through the middle and at the death.
RCB's spin department, led by Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, will likely carry a heavier workload in the early weeks. How the defending champions manage their bowling resources without three frontline seamers could define the first phase of their title defence.
