"I don’t think it was very professional of him."
Josh Inglis’ IPL 2026 availability has become a major talking point after his release by Punjab Kings and subsequent move to Lucknow Super Giants.
The Australian wicketkeeper-batter was let go by Punjab ahead of the retention deadline, despite playing a key role in their best season in over a decade.
Punjab had signed Inglis for Rs. 2.6 crore at the mega auction in 2024. He became central to their campaign as the franchise reached its first IPL final in 11 years.
Captain Shreyas Iyer even shifted down the order to accommodate him. Iyer had earlier said he planned to bat at No. 3 throughout IPL 2025.
The decision paid off. Inglis scored 278 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 162.57.
He also produced one of the moments of the season. Inglis took down Jasprit Bumrah in the playoffs to help Punjab seal a place in the final.
Given his impact, he was widely expected to be retained.
That expectation changed dramatically just before the deadline.
Punjab Kings owner Ness Wadia said Inglis informed the franchise of his limited availability only 45 minutes before the November 15 retention cut-off.
Wadia told The Hindu:
“I think everyone knew when the retention was coming, and we were informed by him 45 minutes before the deadline that he was getting married and needed time to relax and recuperate.
“He said he was going to be available only for a couple of weeks.
“We told him he should have informed us earlier. I don’t think it was very professional of him. I don’t think it is very professional of anyone if they know there is a deadline.
“You can’t call someone 45 minutes before and say, ‘Hey, I’m not coming,’ especially when he knew that we were retaining him.
“But I wish him all the best. He is a good player and I am sure he will do well for Australia.
“And let’s see whether he plays in the IPL or not. I wish him all the best because he is a fellow human being. But the manner in which he behaved was not very professional.”
At the time, the understanding was that he would only be available for four matches in IPL 2026.
However, the auction told a different story. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered a bidding war for his services.
Lucknow eventually secured Josh Inglis for Rs. 8.6 crore. The figure was more than three times what Punjab had paid the previous season.
According to Cricbuzz, Inglis had informed Punjab he could only play for a maximum of two weeks in late May. He planned to go on his honeymoon after getting married on April 18.
IPL 2026 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 31.
The aggressive bidding from LSG and SRH suggested teams believed his availability could change.
Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Varun Aaron added to the uncertainty after the auction. He hinted the franchise hoped head coach Daniel Vettori could influence Inglis’ decision.
Aaron said: “Look, he obviously was going to be out for personal reasons. And that’s always subject to change.
“You never know – people can make different decisions once the auction is done.
“So, we thought that with the relationship Dan (Daniel Vettori) and he have, he could maybe convince him to play a few extra games. And that’s where it came from.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to lead SRH next season. His presence also added weight to the speculation.
Inglis later addressed the situation himself during the ongoing Adelaide Test. He told ABC Sports he did not expect to be picked at the auction.
He said: “Well, I sort of watched a lot of it (auction) and I was pushed back in the pecking order. I don’t have full availability this year.
“I’m getting married in early April. So, I didn’t really expect to go, to be honest. So I sort of saw my name go by unsold.”
“The first one I was like, ‘Alright stuff this, I’m going to bed’ and I need to switch on for tomorrow (Adelaide Test) and then woke up to the news. I didn’t know until I’d seen a few messages this morning.”
Cricbuzz has since reported that Inglis could now be available for a longer spell, suggesting that he may start the tournament, leave for his wedding, then return afterwards.
That would require postponing his honeymoon plans. No final decision has yet been confirmed.
At Lucknow, Josh Inglis will reunite with Justin Langer. The pair previously worked together at Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.
For now, Josh Inglis’ role in IPL 2026 remains unresolved. His late release, soaring auction price, and shifting availability continue to raise questions.
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