Star Australia wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has said that he watched the IPL 2026 mini auction only to find himself pushed down the pecking order, adding that he would not have full availability for the upcoming season, because he is getting married in early April.
Inglis, part of the Punjab Kings’ squad in IPL 2025, which finished runners-up, reportedly told the management of his unavailability, which led to his release.
Inglis, however, was part of the mini-auction, where the Lucknow Super Giants snapped him up for Rs 8.6 crore.
“Well, I sort of watched a lot of it [IPL auction] and I was pushed back in the pecking order. I don’t have full availability this year. I am getting married in early April. So, I did not really expect to go, to be
honest,” Inglis said while speaking to ABC Sport.
“So I sort of saw my name go by unsold… the first one I was like ‘alright, stuff this, I am going to bed’ and I need to switch on for tomorrow [Ashes] and then woke up to the news. I didn’t know until I’d seen a few messages this morning,” Inglis added.
Despite his former Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting hinting at his partial availability after the franchise released him, Inglis sparked a bidding war at the auction after going unsold.
Lucknow outbid the Sunrisers Hyderabad to sign Inglis, reuniting him with coach Justin Langer, with whom he worked at the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.
“We did not really let go of Josh. I mean, Josh, unfortunately, sadly, only told us at the last minute, which wasn’t very fair given that he had been with us for a while. I think everyone knew when the retention was coming and we were informed by him 45 minutes before the deadline that he was getting married and needed time to relax and recuperate,” Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia recently told The Hindu, sparking massive controversy.
