RCB Dealt Another Pace Blow: Nuwan Thushara Denied NOC, To Miss IPL 2026 Opener - Report

Sri Lanka seamer Nuwan Thushara has reportedly been ruled out of at least the opening match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after failing to clear a mandatory fitness test conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The development comes as a fresh setback to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are defending the IPL title for the first time.

As per a report from ESPNcricinfo, Thushara's failure to meet the required benchmark led to SLC denying a no-objection certificate (NOC) to him. That renders the pacer unavailable for the tournament opener between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the very least.

The report quoted Ashley de Silva, the chief executive of SLC, as stating that Thushara did not achieve the pass score of 17 out of a total of 29 points in the fitness test, which covers five different metrics. Thushara is allowed to take another fitness test, but only after a gap of four-five days.

Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga are also currently injured and have not yet taken their fitness tests needed to earn the NOCs to play in the IPL, the report added. Hasaranga is with Lucknow Super Giants, who had bought him for INR 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, while Pathirana was snapped up Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping INR 18 crore.

Meanwhile, RCB's seam bowling department stood depleted as Thushara was expected to play a vital role for the franchise in the death overs. There already is uncertainty around prime Australian medium-pacer Josh Hazlewood’s availability, and left-arm paceman Yash Dayal has been declared unavailable for the whole season amid legal charges relating to sexual assault.