IPL 2026 auction: New signings facing fitness risks

IPL franchises often spend huge sums to secure top talent, but recurring injuries to certain players frequently disrupt those plans. Once again, several big-money signings in the upcoming season carry a history of fitness concerns, including one player who was sold for a record-breaking fee.

Chennai Super Kings were among the teams that made some notable choices at the auction. One such pick was New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, a player who initially attracted limited interest because of his long-standing injury issues. Despite those concerns, CSK acquired Henry for INR 2 crore. While he has featured in the IPL before and possesses proven ability, injuries have regularly sidelined him, even causing him to miss international assignments for New Zealand.

Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, placed heavy bets on two players whose careers have also been repeatedly interrupted by injuries. Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana was snapped up for a staggering Rs 18 crore at the mini-auction, making him the second-most expensive purchase of the event. However, his frequent fitness setbacks have raised doubts about the value of such a significant investment. Pathirana has suffered multiple injuries in his short career and has been ruled out of competitions on several occasions.

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KKR also invested in South African quick Anrich Nortje, another bowler with a worrying injury record. Nortje has missed multiple IPL seasons due to fitness problems and was sidelined for most of KKR’s campaign before returning to feature in a handful of matches during IPL 2025. Although he was bought at his base price of INR 2 crore, his recent return to international cricket during South Africa’s T20 tour of India underlined just how often injuries have interrupted his career.

Lucknow Super Giants added Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga to their squad for INR 2 crore. While Hasaranga is expected to play a key role as a frontline spinner, his availability remains uncertain due to recurring injury concerns. In the past, he missed an entire IPL season with Royal Challengers Bangalore and has also been forced to sit out several important international matches.

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green stands out as another high-profile example. Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history and was hailed as a major acquisition for Kolkata Knight Riders. However, his recent career has also been affected by fitness issues. After undergoing surgery that kept him out of action for more than a season, Green returned to international cricket only recently. He had played full seasons in 2023 and 2024 for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore but missed the entire 2025 IPL before re-entering the league through the mini-auction.

Together, these cases highlight the growing risk IPL franchises face when investing heavily in players whose careers have been repeatedly hampered by injuries.