Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have suffered a late setback ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara reportedly being denied a No Objection Certificate (NoC) by Sri Lanka Cricket.
The development means RCB could miss Thushara’s services for the upcoming campaign, dealing a blow to their pace-bowling depth.
Why Thushara was denied NoC
According to reports, Sri Lanka Cricket has made it mandatory for all contracted players to clear a Physical Performance Test before being granted permission to participate in overseas leagues like the IPL.
While Thushara is not currently injured, his fitness levels are understood to have fallen short of the board’s required standards, leading to the NoC being withheld.
In contrast, Sri Lankan players such as Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis were granted NoCs after successfully meeting the fitness criteria.
Chaminda Vaas criticises SLC’s timing
Sri Lanka legend Chaminda Vaas expressed concern over the board’s approach, questioning the timing of the strict enforcement.
“Fitness is extremely important in cricket, but enforcing strict standards suddenly just before the IPL feels more like poor planning than discipline,” Vaas said.
His remarks highlight growing debate around how boards manage player workloads and fitness benchmarks ahead of major franchise tournaments.
Josh Hazlewood boost — but delayed availability
Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood has joined the RCB camp, offering some relief to the franchise.
However, the Australian pacer is unlikely to be available at the start of the season as he continues to recover from hamstring and Achilles injuries. Hazlewood had also missed key international assignments recently, including the Ashes and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Despite fitness concerns, his return remains crucial for RCB given his impact in their previous campaign, where he played a pivotal role in their title-winning run.
Impact on RCB’s campaign
The absence of Thushara — especially if confirmed — could disrupt RCB’s bowling combinations early in the tournament. Known for his slingy action and death-over effectiveness, the Sri Lankan quick offered a unique dimension to the attack.
With Hazlewood not fully match-ready, RCB may need to reshuffle their overseas balance or rely more heavily on domestic pace options in the opening games.
Conclusion
As IPL 2026 approaches, RCB face an early selection headache with uncertainty around their overseas pace resources. While Hazlewood’s return is a positive, Thushara’s potential absence underlines how off-field factors like fitness policies can significantly impact team strategies.