Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has suffered a big blow ahead of IPL 2026 after he failed a mandatory fitness test conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Consequently, he has not been issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in IPL 2026, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are now struggling to find a good bowling combination.
Fitness Test Failure: What Happened?
According to SLC officials, Nuwan Thushara was not found to be fit enough as he didn’t reach the fitness benchmark. Players need to score at least 17 out of 29 in five different fitness areas to be eligible to be picked in overseas leagues like the IPL.
However, Nuwan Thushara was not able to reach the desired figure, and hence he was not considered for selection in the league. SLC CEO Ashley de Silva has confirmed the news that the fitness test needs to be cleared by the player in order to be granted NOCs.
Impact on RCB’s IPL 2026 Campaign
This comes as a major blow to RCB, as the franchise already has to contend with:
- The loss of Yash Dayal
- The uncertain availability of Josh Hazlewood
Now, with Nuwan Thushara not being available, at least for the first matches, RCB’s bowling attack seems to be in trouble.
He will be missing:
- The season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad
- The second match against Chennai Super Kings
If he fails to pass the next fitness test, he may not be available for the entire tournament.
Opportunity for a Comeback
However, there is still a window of hope for Nuwan Thushara. This is because he has the option of retaking the fitness test with a gap of 4-5 days. If he succeeds in the test, he may join the RCB team in the middle of the season. If he fails the test again, however, he may be barred from playing cricket for a longer period of time.
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Other Sri Lankan Players Await Fitness Clearance
Thushara is not the only Sri Lankan player who is yet to clear the fitness test. Two other major Sri Lankan cricketers are yet to clear the test.
Matheesha Pathirana (KKR)
Recovering from a calf strain
Expected to join Kolkata Knight Riders in mid-April
Missed part of T20 World Cup campaign through injury
Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG)
Sustained hamstring injury in T20 World Cup
Has not undergone fitness test required for selection
Signed by Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2 crore
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