Cricket News, IPL 2026, RCB News, Thushara Fails, Cricket Updates
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have suffered another setback ahead of the IPL 2026 season, with Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara failing a mandatory fitness test and being denied a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Thushara’s absence compounds RCB’s concerns, as they are already without Yash Dayal and remain uncertain about the availability of Josh Hazlewood for the tournament.
Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva confirmed that Thushara did not meet the required benchmark in the board’s fitness assessment. The pacer needed to score at least 17 out of 29 points across five metrics but fell short, ruling him out of immediate participation.
As a result, Thushara will miss at least RCB’s opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, as well as potentially their second fixture against Chennai Super Kings on April 5. If he fails a subsequent fitness test, his absence could extend further, potentially sidelining him from all representative cricket for the near future.
However, Thushara will have another opportunity to clear the test after a gap of four to five days, offering a chance to rejoin the squad later in the tournament.
Meanwhile, other Sri Lankan stars are also facing fitness concerns. Wanindu Hasaranga, who was signed by Lucknow Super Giants, and Matheesha Pathirana, picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders, are both recovering from injuries and have yet to undergo the required fitness tests for NOC clearance.
Pathirana, who is currently rehabilitating from a calf strain sustained during the T20 World Cup, is expected to join KKR only around mid-April. Hasaranga, meanwhile, is recovering from a hamstring injury that cut short his World Cup campaign.
With multiple injury concerns affecting key overseas players, franchises could face early challenges in assembling full-strength squads as IPL 2026 gets underway.
