Thushara fails fitness test, denied NOC to join RCB in IPL 2026

Matheesha Pathirana (KKR) and Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG) are yet to take their fitness tests

Madushka Balasuriya

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 10:12 AM (2 hrs ago)

After losing Yash Dayal, and with some question marks still swirling around the extent of Josh Hazlewood's participation in IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will also be without Nuwan Thushara, at least for the moment if not the entire tournament.

It is understood that Thushara has failed the fitness test made mandatory by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and has therefore been denied a no-objection certificate (NOC) by his board.

Ashley de Silva, the chief executive of SLC, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo on Friday that Thushara had failed to achieve the pass score of 17 out of the 29 points on offer, across five different metrics, in SLC's fitness test.

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That means Thushara will not be available for at least RCB's opening game - also the opening game of the season - against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on Saturday, and possibly RCB's second game, against Chennai Super Kings on April 5, also in Bengaluru. In case he fails the test again, he might not be permitted to play any representative cricket for the foreseeable future. The good news for Thushara, though, is that he is eligible to take another fitness test, but only after a gap of four to five days.

Two other prominent Sri Lanka cricketers, Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga, are also nursing injuries, and have not yet taken their fitness tests in order to earn the NOCs to play in the IPL.

Hasaranga is a part of Lucknow Super Giants, who had acquired him for INR 2 crore at the last auction, while Pathirana went to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 18 crore in the same auction.

Pathirana, KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar had said on March 20, would not be available for KKR's initial games, and might link up with the team around the middle of April. Pathirana, who was ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup after playing three games because of a calf strain, is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Hasaranga had also started the T20 World Cup for Sri Lanka before he had to leave the tournament with a hamstring injury.

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