IPL Auction Twist: Josh Inglis Declares He Will Play Only 4 Matches in IPL 2026

In an unusual development ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has informed the BCCI that he would be available for only 25 percent of the season effectively a maximum of four matches should any franchise pick him.

Inglis is among five international players who have declared restricted availability for the upcoming season. The others are Australians Ashton Agar (65% availability) and William Sutherland (80%), New Zealand’s Adam Milne (95%), and South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw (20%).

According to reports, the 30-year-old Inglis, who is currently playing in the Ashes, has set his base price at INR 2 Crore. This limited availability is believed to be linked to a potential clash between the IPL schedule and his personal wedding plans. This factor also reportedly played a role in his release from the Punjab Kings, who had initially considered retaining him under new coach Ricky Ponting.

Inglis had a decent season with Punjab in IPL 2025, scoring 278 runs in 11 matches. He played a crucial knock of 73 off 42 balls in the final league game and famously took on Jasprit Bumrah in the Qualifier 2, smashing 20 runs in one over to help his team reach the final.

This declaration significantly complicates his auction prospects. A franchise would have to weigh his impactful, match-winning potential against the reality of having a marquee overseas player available for less than a quarter of the tournament. Other players with limited availability, like Rilee Rossouw (just 20%), face even steeper odds of being picked when the auction takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

                                               

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