Australian star wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has officially informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his limited availability in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The 30-year-old Aussie cricketer played a pivotal role for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the recent edition of the IPL in 2025, but wasn’t retained ahead of the mini-auction. This sparked a lot of heated debates and speculations in the cricket world.
Why PBKS Released Josh Inglis Before IPL 2026?
Josh Inglis later clarified that he would play only 25% of the next IPL season, citing personal reasons. Also, the latest reports reveal that the experienced batter is getting married next year, and his wedding dates clash with the tournament’s schedule.
Due to his limited participation, the Punjab Kings have released him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
As Inglis was inconsistent with his performance in the last season, PBKS is reported to have released him to free up INR 2.06 crore in their purse for the forthcoming player auction.
Mainly, the Aussie cricketer’s wedding scheduled on the IPL 2026 window forced the Kings to make a last-minute decision by releasing him on the final day of the retention date on November 15 (Saturday).
PBKS Head Coach Explains Why Inglis Retention was Impossible
Moments after all franchises submitted their retention list, the former Australian captain and PBKS current head coach explained why it was impossible to retain Josh Inglis ahead of IPL 2026 auction:
“Definitely! Having a terrific player like Josh in our squad would keep the team moving forward. However, he won’t be available throughout the tournament and would certainly miss a majority of the matches. For this reason, we found it impossible to retain him for the next season,” Ponting said.
Josh Inglis’ Performance for PBKS in IPL 2025
Having joined the PBKS for INR 2.06 crore, Inglis’ role was crucial to steer the team to its first IPL final since 2014. He compiled 278 runs in 11 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 162.
Especially, his 73-run knock from 42 balls (including 9 fours and 3 sixes) in the Kings’ last league stage fixture pulled off a tremendous 7-wicket win against the Mumbai Indians. His fabulous performance in a 184-run chase helped PBKS conclude at the two two spots of the points table before qualifying for the playoffs.
In the Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians, Inglis smashed 20 runs off a single over against Jasprit Bumrah in the power play, which set a solid foundation for his team to chase a mammoth 204 target.
He batted at No.3 for Punjab in the IPL 2025 final and scored 39 runs off 23 balls (including 1 four and 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 169.57. However, his team ended up narrowly losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 runs.
How Many Matches Will Josh Inglis Play in IPL 2026?
Josh Inglis informed the BCCI and franchises that he would feature in only 25% of the season, meaning he would feature in only four games, spanning upto two weeks of the IPL 2026.
With 1,355 players registered for the bidding event, here are those five overseas players, alongside Inglis, who have confirmed their limited participation for the upcoming season:
| Overseas Players | Nation | Limited Availability in IPL 2026 (in terms of percentage) |
| Adam Milne | New Zealand | 95% |
| Ashton Agar | Australia | 80% |
| William Sutherland | Australia | 65% |
| Josh Inglis | Australia | 25% |
| Rilee Rossouw | South Africa | 20% |
Even though a franchise is ready to pay its base price worth INR 2 crore, Inglis will feature only one-fourth of the IPL’s 19th edition. This makes every team reconsider their strategies before buying him in the auction.
PBKS Next Plans For IPL 2026 After Releasing Josh Inglis
With Josh Inglis going under the hammer and available only for 25% of next season, Punjab Kings will now search for a dynamic middle-order batter after releasing him. Additionally, the non-retentions of Aaron Hardie and Glenn Maxwell to amplify the level of explosiveness in the batting line-up.
Also Read: Pakistan Cricketers Skip BPL 2025/26 to Give Importance to National Commitments
Final Thoughts
As Josh Inglis would be unavailable for 75% of the tournament, he is unlikely to fit into the team’s strategy or balance, given his base price of INR 2 crore. Most often, teams prioritize acquiring players who can deliver consistent performance throughout the season rather than making occasional appearances.
Also, there are several star players aiming to find a buyer in a highly competitive auction pool. So, it is understood that the franchises would be keen to sign in players who can represent the team entire season instead of a specialist wicketkeeper-batter like Inglis, who would be available for a few games.
Regardless of his presence as a short-term hard-hitting batter, Inglis’ proven abilities as an aggressive finisher in T20 cricket prompt teams to secure his services. He could still be a valuable asset for any team’s batting line-up, particularly in the death overs.
