IPL 2026: Full list of players ruled out and their replacements - updated after Spencer Johnson replaces Ellis in CSK

The 19th season of the Indian Premier League is set to begin soon, and multiple franchises have found their plans scuppered by injuries to crucial players in their squads.

Kolkata Knight Riders is perhaps the worst affected, with the bulk of its pace attack — Akash Deep, Mustafizur Rahman, and Harshit Rana — ruled out for different reasons, while Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals all likely to miss first-team starters as well.

A number of teams have selected replacement players who were previously contracted to play in the Pakistan Super League, following on from Mumbai Indians’ selection of Corbin Bosch last year. Spencer Johnson, Blessing Muzarabani, and Dasun Shanaka have all withdrawn from PSL deals to play in the IPL this year.

Here is a complete list of the players ruled out of IPL 2026 and their replacements:

Player	Team	Reason	Replacement
Mustafizur Rahman	Kolkata Knight Riders	BCCI request	Blessing Muzarabani
Atharva Ankolekar	Mumbai Indians	Knee injury	–
Harshit Rana	Kolkata Knight Riders	Knee injury	–
Nathan Ellis	Chennai Super Kings	Hamstring injury	Spencer Johnson
Sam Curran	Rajasthan Royals	Groin injury	Dasun Shanaka
Jack Edwards	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Foot injury	David Payne
Akash Deep	Kolkata Knight Riders	Back injury	Saurabh Dubey
Ben Duckett	Delhi Capitals	Withdrawn for personal reasons	–