RCB Suffers Blow as Nuwan Thushara Fails Fitness Test, Denied IPL 2026 NOC

Nuwan Thushara, the Sri Lankan pacer, has failed his fitness test and been denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Sri Lanka Cricket, ruling him out of at least the opening phase of IPL 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Thushara scored below the required 17 out of 29 points across five fitness parameters, as per SLC guidelines. This is a significant blow to RCB, who had secured Thushara's services for ₹1.6 crore. The team is already coping with the absence of Yash Dayal, and Josh Hazlewood's availability is uncertain. Thushara will get another chance to prove his fitness in 4-5 days, but his participation in RCB's second match against Chennai Super Kings on April 5 is uncertain. Thushara's situation just got clearer. He failed SLC's fitness test, scoring below the required 17/29 across five metrics, and now he's been denied NOC to join RCB for IPL 2026 😊. SLC's Ashley de Silva confirmed the news, and it's a big blow to RCB's plans. That means Thushara will not be available for at least RCB's opening game - also the opening game of the season - against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on Saturday, and possibly RCB's second game, against Chennai Super Kings on April 5, also in Bengaluru. In case he fails the test again, he might not be permitted to play any representative cricket for the foreseeable future. The good news for Thushara, though, is that he is eligible to take another fitness test, but only after a gap of four to five days. Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga, two prominent Sri Lankan cricketers, are currently nursing injuries and awaiting fitness tests to secure No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for IPL 2026. Pathirana, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is expected to miss the initial games due to a calf strain, with a possible return around mid-April. Hasaranga, part of Lucknow Super Giants, is also undergoing rehabilitation and hasn't taken his fitness test yet. KKR had acquired Pathirana for ₹18 crore, and his absence is a significant blow to their bowling plans, especially with Harshit Rana also out due to a knee injury. Hasaranga, acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹2 crore, is crucial for their squad.