RCB pacer ruled out of IPL 2026 [Source: AFP]Days before the start of IPL 2026, the defending champions, RCB, have been dealt a huge blow. The franchise assembled a strong squad heading into the new season, but all their planning has been derailed, with injuries to key players. The IPL 2025 winners are set to face SRH in the opening fixture on Saturday, and things have gone from bad to worse for them.Their premium pacer, Josh Hazlewood, is already set to miss the initial phase of the IPL 2026 due to an injury he suffered last year. The franchise expected the Aussie bowler to be fit for the start of IPL, but his recovery is taking time.Now, alongside Hazlewood, another pacer has given a massive headache to the RCB, with one of their key bowler denied the NOC to participate in IPL 2026.Thushara denied NOC; set to miss IPL 2026In a massive jolt which could disrupt RCB’s campaign, Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has been denied the NOC by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board following the introduction of a strict new fitness policy.According to NewsWire, the RCB pacer failed to clear the fitness test, and as a result, the board decided to block his NOC and Thushara is set to miss the entire IPL season.As per the new policy, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board introduced a new fitness policy and made it mandatory for all players to pass the test so as to get the clearance to take part in overseas franchise leagues. Thushara’s availability for the IPL depended on his fitness result, and two days before the tournament, RCB suffered a huge loss.Also Read: Virat Kohli Cheekily Compares RCB's 7 Crore Signing With South African LegendThushara not injured, but fitness concerns remainInterestingly, Sri Lanka Cricket has revealed that as of now, Thushara is not injured, but fitness concerns linger on. According to the cricket board, the right-arm pacer can bowl in matches, but concerns remain over his overall fitness levels, prompting selectors to take a firm stance.Injury concerns and poor match fitness have hampered Thushara’s T20I journey, as the pacer was a key member of the Sri Lankan team during the Asia Cup, last year, but he eventually lost his place in the side.The Lankan Lions lost several bowlers in the T20 World Cup due to injuries, and despite this, the board never considered Thushara in the scheme of things as his fitness standards were below the benchmark set by his cricket board.Why RCB will miss Thushara in IPL 2026While RCB’s batting is sorted, their bowling is the weak link, and it could derail their IPL campaign. Hazlewood is their best pacer, and he will be out for a while. As a result, Thushara was supposed to play in the RCB playing XI, but his NOC blockage could come back to haunt the franchise.The pacer has had a brilliant T20I record for Sri Lanka, bagging 36 wickets in 30 matches, and moreover, his presence would have solved Bengaluru’s death-bowling issues in Hazlewood’s absence.The right-arm RCB pacer can operate in the middle-overs and has the ability to take wickets in slog overs, a trait that RCB will miss in the upcoming IPL 2026.Also Read: BCCI Announces Border-Gavaskar Trophy Schedule; India Fixtures Vs WI, SL, ZIM Revealed
