We’ve got injury, availability, and replacement updates in IPL 2026. SRH and CSK are the sides hit most by injuries and withdrawals since 2024. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form remains an issue, while Abhishek Sharma is tearing it apart for SRH.
Pathirana update
Matheesha Pathirana is expected to join KKR on April 18 or 19 in Kolkata. The Sri Lankan fast bowler was granted an NOC last week. However, he stayed in Sri Lanka and continued to work on his fitness. Now, it has been learnt that Pathirana will report to KKR before the RR match on April 19 at the Eden Gardens.
Worry over Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s lean patch continues. The CSK captain fell for 19 against SRH in Hyderabad. After 6 matches in IPL 2026, Gaikwad has just 82 runs at a strike rate of 112.32. His inability to fire at the top also hampers CSK’s ability to utilise the powerplay. Now that CSK has lost 4 matches, Gaikwad is under serious scrutiny as both a captain and batter.
Akash Madhwal for CSK?
Former MI fast bowler Akash Madhwal is the frontrunner to replace Khaleel Ahmed. The 32-year-old appeared for trials in the CSK nets but hasn’t been finalised yet. Other bowlers are in the running to replace Khaleel as well. Madhwal has played 13 matches for MI and 4 for RR.
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Abhishek matches Sooryavanshi
Abhishek Sharma has smashed the fastest fifty for SRH and the joint-fastest half-century in IPL 2026, levelling with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Abhishek took CSK bowlers to task in the powerplay, helping SRH to win by 10 runs in Hyderabad. In the process, he scored 2,000 runs in the IPL as well.
CSK & SRH’s injury woes
SRH and CSK have underperformed in the last 2 years. And there’s a valid reason for it. These two franchises have been plagued by injuries the most since 2024. Both have lost 8 players to injury in the last 3 seasons. Meanwhile, the best team during this period, RCB, has lost only 2 players.
Gerald Coetzee joins SRH
SRH have signed Gerald Coetzee as the injury replacement for David Payne, who himself was an injury replacement. The South African fast bowler has been signed for INR 2 crore after he went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction. Coetzee has played for MI and GT in the last 2 IPL seasons.
Cricket
BCCI to reward Ajit Agarkar with chief selector contract extension till ODI World Cup 2027
