New Delhi: Loki Ferguson Will miss the early part of IPL 2026 as he chooses to spend time with his family after recently becoming a father. The fast bowler, who plays for Punjab Kings, is expected to join the squad later in the tournament after taking a short break from cricket.Ferguson explained his decision. “Just had a young son, trying to spend as much time as possible at home and support my wife,” he said ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “I’ll have a couple of weeks off after that, before moving on to the next steps IPL And away for the winter.”
He had earlier taken only a short break during the T20 World Cup 2026, spending only a few days with his family before returning to the game. Now he wants a long break to balance his personal life and cricket. Ferguson said he still enjoys representing the New Zealand national cricket team, adding, “It’s always a pleasure playing for the Black Caps, reliving my time in India with this group”. In his absence, Punjab Kings can turn to players like Ben Dershuis along with other pace options in their squad.
Commitment to New Zealand and future goals
Ferguson made it clear that he is not walking away from international cricket. “They thought it was my last game (laughs). No, I’m still very determined to play for New Zealand,” he said.Looking ahead, he is focusing on the upcoming world tournaments and added, “Looking forward to the next two World Cups, there is a great opportunity for our squad.” He also mentioned working hard to stay fit and contribute to the team.On the development of cricket, Ferguson supported the idea of a franchise T20 league in New Zealand, saying, “I think it’s very exciting that there is a possibility of a franchise tournament,” and highlighted the country’s talent and potential to showcase its cricket on a bigger stage.
