New Zealand Pacer Lockie Ferguson to Miss IPL 2026 Start for Paternity Leave

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will miss the early part of IPL 2026 to prioritize family time after the birth of his son. Ferguson, who plays for Punjab Kings, has taken a few weeks off and is expected to join the team mid-season. He's committed to playing for New Zealand and is eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup. Aww, congrats to Lockie Ferguson on becoming a dad ! He's taking a well-deserved break to spend time with his family. Can't wait to see him back on the field, giving it his all for Punjab Kings and New Zealand. Punjab Kings might consider reshuffling their overseas combination, with Ben Dwarshuis likely to fill Ferguson's spot. Ferguson's absence is a big blow to PBKS' bowling plans, but he's match-fit and ready to make an impact when he joins. "Cricket, in general, is on the up, which is amazing," Ferguson said. "Sometimes the hard part is selecting when to take a rest. So, picking this time, which I think is pretty fair, considering the wife was looking after the baby when I was in the World Cup. So, no, really looking forward to some time at home and then back into some cricket after that." PBKS got a great deal on Ben Dwarshuis at the auction - INR 4.4 crore is a steal ! With his experience in the BBL, he'll be a solid addition to the squad. And with Arshdeep, Marco Jansen, and others in the mix, PBKS have some serious bowling firepower.Dwarshuis's stats are impressive - 164 wickets in 129 BBL games at an economy rate of 8.09. Lockie Ferguson's making the most of his time with his little one . He grabbed a quick paternity break during the T20 World Cup, but now he's taking a longer break to soak it all in. And what a way to balance family and cricket - 3 for 16 against South Africa at Eden Park, his home ground !