In a big early setback for Punjab Kings, pacer Lockie Ferguson is set to miss the early phase of Indian Premier League 2026.
The Kiwi speedster, who recently became a father, is expected to prioritize time with his family before joining the squad, as reported by espncricinfo.
His absence will surely be felt as Punjab look to go one step further after finishing as runners up last season. Ferguson’s pace and experience were key to their run, and the team will now need others to step up early in the tournament.
Lockie Ferguson prioritizes family
“Just had a wee son trying to spend as much time as I can at home and help the wife out. I’ll have a few weeks off after this before sort of heading to the later stages of the IPL and away for the winter,” Ferguson said.
He also missed a couple of days during the T20 World Cup 2026 as he returned home after becoming a new dad.
PBKS look for new combinations
His absence will force Punjab Kings to rethink their combinations early in the season. Despite having a strong bowling attack, they will be without his pace and experience. The team could look towards options like Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett who can provide support with the ball.
Punjab Kings came close last season, finishing as runners up after losing the IPL 2025 final by just four runs against Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the side was impressive across departments and they look well balanced once again this year.
With a strong batting lineup and a quality bowling unit featuring Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, they remain among the favorites as they aim to go one step further and finish the job this time.
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