Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to Miss Early IPL 2026 Matches Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to miss the opening matches of the IPL 2026 tournament as Cricket Australia (CA) continues to monitor the workload of its top fast bowlers ahead of a demanding cricket calendar. The decision means Starc, who plays for Delhi Capitals, and Hazlewood, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will join a growing list of Australian cricketers unavailable for part or all of the IPL season. This follows the earlier exclusion of Pat Cummins from Sunrisers Hyderabad’s initial fixtures, as well as the full absence of Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) and Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) on Friday. Cummins, who played only one Test during the Australian summer due to a stress injury in his back, has been sidelined since July 2025. His sole representative appearance came in the third Ashes Test in December, marking his first game since the West Indies series in July 2025. Hazlewood, meanwhile, missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. While he participated in some white-ball matches against South Africa, India, and New Zealand in 2025, as well as a Sheffield Shield game in November, he has remained largely absent from competitive cricket over the past several months. Starc, Australia’s leading bowler in the Ashes series, played all five Tests and was awarded Player-of-the-Series for his 31 wickets, which helped secure Australia’s 4-1 victory. He also featured in the Big Bash League (BBL) toward the end of the season. However, Starc’s absence from the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026 is notable, as he had retired from T20 internationals.#royal_challengers_bengaluru #delhi_capitals #mitchell_starc #josh_hazlewood #cricket_australia
Taskin Ahmed's Record-Breaking Bowling Earns ESPNcricinfo Annual Awards Recognition Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed has been honored with a spot in ESPNcricinfo’s annual awards for individual performances in 2025. The accolade was awarded for his outstanding bowling display during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he delivered a seven-wicket haul for just 19 runs against Dhaka Capital. This performance, which dismantled Dhaka Capital’s batting lineup, is being hailed as one of the best in BPL history and earned him the men’s T20 leagues best bowling performance award. Taskin’s spell of taking 7 wickets for 19 runs in a single innings showcased his dominance and precision, marking a significant milestone in his career. The achievement highlights his ability to deliver under pressure and his growing reputation as a key player in franchise cricket. His performance not only secured him a place in the awards but also underscored the competitive nature of the BPL and the high standards required to excel in T20 leagues. The ESPNcricinfo awards recognized excellence across multiple categories, with cricketers from various nations receiving honors for their contributions to international and franchise cricket. South Africa’s Aiden Markram claimed the men’s Test batting award for his 136-run innings against Australia in the World Test Championship final, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc took the Test bowling award for a 7-wicket haul against England in the Ashes. In the ODI category, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran won the batting award for his 177-run innings, and India’s Varun Chakravarthy secured the bowling honor for his 5-wicket performance against New Zealand.#espn_cricinfo #taskin_ahmed #bangladesh_premier_league #dhaka_capital #mitchell_starc
