RCB suffer huge blow! SLC blocks Nuwan Thushara’s IPL 2026 participation
Published - 26 Mar 2026, 02:40 PM | Updated - 26 Mar 2026, 03:15 PM
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A huge blow for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as one of their overseas cricketers, Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, is set to miss the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as the cricket governing body of Sri Lanka refused to issue a No Objection Certificate to their star bowler, as per NewsWire
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), in a fresh mandate, mentioned that their cricketers who would pass the fitness Tests will be allowed to take part in the IPL 2026 with their respective franchises. Nuwan Thushara is one of the Sri Lankan players who remained uncertain about playing IPL 2026.
Why will Nuwan Thushara not play in the IPL 2026 for RCB?
On March 26, it is reported that SLC refused to provide a NOC certificate to Thushara, as he reportedly failed to obtain the necessary fitness points. RCB secured the service of a pacer for approximately INR 1.6 crore. In case he remains unavailable for the season, the seamer can miss the contract as well.
Media reports further indicate that the bowler has no injury and is capable of bowling as well. But concerns over his fitness levels, which might not be appropriate for SLC fitness standards, forced him to rule himself out of the 2026 Indian Premier League.
Nuwan Thushara played only one match for the RCB. He mostly stayed on the bench as a backup option. When the team needed him in a crisis, the Lankan pacer chipped in with an impactful bowling figure, taking one wicket against 26 runs for an economy rate of 6.50.
Who will be the frontline pacer for RCB if Nuwan Thushara remains unavailable?
Thushara was supposed to play a vital role as RCB's prime pacer, Josh Hazlewood, is set to miss multiple matches in the initial stage of the tournament. Along with the uncertainties over the Australian pacer, Indian seamer Yash Dayal also will not play in the season because of personal reasons, the franchise informed.
In such a scenario, when both Hazlewood and Dayal are not with the team, Thushara's exclusion is nothing but a massive blow for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Will they announce a replacement in a hurry or take time before finalising the Sri Lanka international replacement? It'll be interesting to see.
He was last featured for the national team during Pakistan's tour to Sri Lanka, before the T20 World Cup 2026. In December, 2025, the fast bowler appeared in the International League T20 (ILT20) with the Desert Vipers. In 5 matches with the Vipers, I managed to take only 4 scalps including a couple of braces.
Some other Sri Lanka players were also doubtful to play in IPL
Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, multiple Sri Lankan players were uncertain about playing in the league due to SLC's guidelines. While Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendis have already cleared the tests and received NOCs to participate in the IPL,
Thushara remains on the sidelines. Kusal Perera also received the required clearance to play in the Pakistan Super League 2026 without proving his fitness level, as he is not in the national selector's plans for now.
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