In a surprising revelation, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has confirmed he will not be available for the complete Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, despite fetching a massive Rs 8.6 crore deal from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the auction on Tuesday, December 19, 2025.
A Wedding Clash and a Surprise Bid
Inglis disclosed that his upcoming marriage in early April directly conflicts with the tournament schedule, which is tentatively set to commence on March 26. This personal commitment significantly limits his playing window. The player admitted he had low expectations of being picked, given his partial availability.
"I sort of watched a lot of it [the auction] and I was pushed back in the pecking order. I don't have full availability this year. I'm getting married in early April. So, I didn't really expect to go, to be honest," Inglis told ABC Sport.
He revealed he had gone to bed thinking he was unsold, only to wake up to the news of his multi-crore contract with LSG. Reports indicate that Inglis had formally informed the BCCI before the auction about his availability for only around four matches and had set a base price of Rs 2 crore.
The Bidding War and De Villiers' 'Craziest Signing' Remark
Despite being released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction, Inglis's name sparked intense interest when it came up. A fierce bidding war ensued between the 2025 finalists and the Lucknow Super Giants, with LSG ultimately securing his services for Rs 8.6 crore.
This high price for a player with limited availability raised eyebrows, most notably from South African legend AB de Villiers. On his YouTube channel, de Villiers termed it the "craziest signing" he had ever witnessed.
"Josh Inglis, this is the craziest signing I have ever seen in my life. He is only going to be available for four matches. LSG sign him for 8.6 crores. I don't know, is he really worth that much?" de Villiers questioned, pointing out that other accomplished players like Jonny Bairstow and Devon Conway went unsold despite full-season availability.
Implications for Lucknow Super Giants
LSG's decision to invest heavily in Inglis presents a high-risk, high-reward scenario for the franchise's IPL 2026 campaign. The team management is betting on his explosive batting and wicketkeeping skills to make a decisive impact in the handful of games he will play.
The move underscores the premium value placed on dynamic, game-changing players in the T20 format, even if their stint is brief. It now falls on the LSG think-tank to strategically plan their lineup and resources around Inglis's short tenure, ensuring they maximize his contribution during the initial phase of the tournament.
