DRS March 21: Massive Indian cricket team news, KKR play match before IPL 2026 & DC lose Mitchell Starc

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 seems to be cursed somewhat, as teams are losing players almost on a daily basis now. After Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood confirmed they would miss a few IPL 2026 games, Delhi Capitals (DC) have been dealt a blow as well. Premier pacer Mitchell Starc is set to miss some initial games as well due to workload management. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got involved in an intra-squad practice match. Also, there were multiple news related to the Indian cricket team as well. Catch all of this and more below.

KKR host practice match before IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosted an intra-squad practice match, where Angkrish Raghuvanshi starred with a 55-ball century, leading Purple Knights to a win over Golden Knights. Chasing 200, Purple Knights were 108/3 in 10 overs, with Raghuvanshi (50 off 29 balls) and Ramandeep Singh (12 off 11 balls) at the crease. Despite losing Ramandeep and Anukul Roy as well, Raghuvanshi single-handedly won them the game Kartik Tyagi impressed in the first innings as well. Read more here.

Mitchell Starc blow to DC

Australia’s big three pacers – Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood – will miss the initial games of IPL 2026. Cricket Australia prioritizes their Test calendar and the World Test Championship, managing their workload. Starc, retained by Delhi Capitals for INR 11.75 crore, was expected to lead DC’s pace attack. Cummins (SRH) and Hazlewood (RCB) also face availability issues. DC has Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, and Dushmantha Chameera as alternatives. This adds to the list of overseas players missing IPL 2026, including Sam Curran and Nathan Ellis. Read more here.

Packed Indian cricket team schedule

India will tour Ireland in June 2026 for a two-match T20I series on June 26 and 28 in Belfast. The series will mark India’s first T20I assignment as T20 World 2026 Champions. Many T20I regulars might be rested to give IPL performers a chance. India had won their previous T20I series against Ireland 2-0 in 2023. Ireland has a new T20I captain after Paul Stirling stepped down. India has a packed schedule ahead, including series against England, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, the West Indies, and New Zealand. Read more here.

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ODI World Cup 2027 in mind

The BCCI is keeping a close eye on IPL 2026 performances to select India’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. A 20-player shortlist includes big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, will track players’ fitness and form, avoiding hasty decisions. Rohit and Kohli, who’ve retired from Tests and T20Is, are focused on the ODI World Cup. Expectations are high, given India’s recent success in ICC tournaments. Read more here.

Matheesha Pathirana update

KKR’s Matheesha Pathirana will miss the initial games of IPL 2026 and is expected to join the team only in mid-April. The Sri Lankan pacer is currently undergoing rehab with the SLC and needs to clear fitness tests to get the NOC. Coach Abhishek Nayar revealed that Pathirana injured his calf during the T20 World Cup 2026 and played only three matches. KKR is yet to find a replacement for injured Harshit Rana, with Nayar saying it’s a big blow and not easy to fill the void. Read more here.

No rest for Bumrah?

India will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test on June 6 in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, followed by three ODIs. As per reports, the BCCI will field a full-strength team, led by Shubman Gill, despite the match not being part of the World Test Championship cycle. Experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to play. It is interesting but something needless as well, as India would also want their backup bowlers to get more exposure. Read more here.

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