'Congested schedule': Mo Bobat flags busy calendar for IPL 2026 injury concerns
IPL 2026 faces a fast-bowling crisis as injuries sideline key players, including RCB's Josh Hazlewood. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat attributes this to a congested cricket calendar, impacting team planning. Despite Phil Salt's recent T20 form dip, Bobat expresses confidence in his ability to perform for RCB.
IPL 2026 has been affected by the injuries of fast-bowlers, with almost every franchises first-choice bowlers are going to miss the opening phase of tournament. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will themselves be without pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood. RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, believes the situation reflects the strain of an increasingly packed cricket calendar.
Alongside Hazlewood, fellow Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are also expected to miss the early part of the season, while Nathan Ellis has been ruled out entirely. Mo Bobat belives the situation is beacause of packed cricket schedules,''I guess it's probably a symptom of a congested cricket schedule, isn't it? ," he said at a press conference on Tuesday (March 24).
"Any of us who follow cricket know how challenging that is. On a domestic level, but also on an international level. So it's not ideal.
"It's not ideal for any of the teams that are losing players at this late stage because it impacts your planning. So I sympathise and empathise with any of the teams going through that. I mean, it's not easy.