Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dealt a blow ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season as Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has failed a mandatory fitness test, ruling him out of at least the opening phase of the tournament.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Thushara did not meet the required benchmark in the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) assessment, resulting in the board withholding his no-objection certificate (NOC) and making him unavailable for immediate participation.

SLC guidelines require players to achieve a minimum score of 17 out of 29 across five fitness parameters to be eligible for overseas leagues. SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva confirmed that Thushara fell short of the qualifying mark. He will, however, have another opportunity to take the fitness test after four to five days.

This development adds to RCB’s challenges ahead of their season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The franchise is already coping with the absence of pacer Yash Dayal, though Australian quick Josh Hazlewood joined the squad on Thursday.

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Thushara’s availability for RCB’s second match against Chennai Super Kings on 5 April remains uncertain. A second failure in the fitness test could sideline him from competitive cricket for an extended period.

Other Sri Lankan players are also facing fitness concerns ahead of the IPL. Matheesha Pathirana, picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury and is expected to join his squad only around mid-April. Wanindu Hasaranga, signed by Lucknow Super Giants, is recovering from a hamstring problem that forced him out of the recent T20 World Cup.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru full squad for IPL 2026: Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Nuwan Thushara, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Vihaan Malhotra (₹30 lakh), Jordan Cox (₹75 lakh), Venkatesh Iyer (₹7 crore), Satvik Deswal (₹30 lakh), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.20 crore), Vicky Ostwal (₹30 lakh), Kanishk Chouhan (₹30 lakh), Jacob Duffy (₹2 crore).