Australia’s wicket-keeper batsman Josh Inglis has officially announced that he will be unavailable to play in the entire season of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League. This is due to a personal milestone in his life, since he is getting married in early April, just in time to coincide with the start of the tournament. The tournament dates are supposed to run until May 31.
Lucknow Super Giants Play Despite Partial Availability
Despite being less available, Lucknow Super Giants managed to bag the services of Josh Inglis for a substantial price of INR 8.6 crores in the IPL mini-auction. The acquisition of the player was a result of an unexpected twist, where Josh Inglis was initially unsold before a bidding war erupted between Sunrisers Hyderabad.
However, they eventually won the competition, which would see Inglis reunite with their head coach, Justin Langer, whom Inglis has worked with successfully before at the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. In an interview with ABC Sport, Josh Inglis revealed he didn’t think he had a chance of being selected given his limited availability:
He has confessed that he was aware that his wedding plans had placed him low in terms of the auction order and was astonished to find messages confirming him in the selection in the morning.
The Australian cricketer also expressed that his attention is now on his international commitments, most specifically the Ashes series, having thought that his opportunities in IPL were over.
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Punjab Kings Release and Retention Controversy
Earlier, Josh Inglis was associated with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) team, mentored by Ricky Ponting. Ricky Ponting had indicated earlier that the team’s decision to release Inglis before IPL 2026 was based partly on his limited availability.
The co-owner of Punjab Kings Team, Ness Wadia, later reacted to the development, saying they intended to retain Inglis but were only informed about his availability in the final 45 minutes leading to the retention deadline. According to Wadia, a communication from Inglis stated that he would only play two to three matches, forcing PBKS to reassess their plans.
Will Josh Inglis play in IPL 2026?
Though Josh Inglis still finds himself among the most exciting wicket-keeper batsmen in the Aussie lineup, the fact is that the leagues are increasingly valuing players who are available year-round. This is one such case which affected the auction. In the case of LSG, Inglis’ short-term stint may offer explosive batting at the top or in the middle order even for a couple of matches.
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