Sri Lankan fast bowlers Nuvan Thushara. Sri Lanka is set to miss out on the upcoming Indian Premier League after Sri Lanka Cricket was denied a no-objection certificate after introducing a strict new fitness policy. As part of the revised guidelines, the board has made it mandatory for players to meet newly established physical performance standards before being cleared to feature in overseas franchise leagues, including the IPL and PSL. Thushara’s participation was contingent on completing these fitness tests, but reports suggest that she fell short of the required standards. According to Newswire Sri Lanka, the board’s decision to withhold the NOC could result in the pacer losing his contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, worth around Rs 1.6 crore. The development added to a difficult period for Thushara. After playing a key role in Sri Lanka’s 2025 Asia Cup campaign, he was later dropped ahead of the T20 World Cup, even as the team faced multiple injuries in the pace department. His absence from the election raised concerns about his standing within the national setup. Although Thushara is reportedly not dealing with any injuries and is fit to bowl, questions about his overall fitness level have influenced the selectors’ decision under the new policy framework. The board has adopted a strict stance, NOCs are being given only to those players who meet the prescribed fitness criteria. Several Sri Lankan players, including Dushmanatha Chimera, Dasan Shanaka, Patham Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendes, have cleared the benchmarks and secured IPL qualification. In contrast, Kosal Janeet Perera has been allowed to participate in the PSL without a fitness test, with the board clarifying that he is not currently in contention for national selection. At RCB, Thushara had a realistic chance of breaking into the playing XI. With the lead overseas pacer Josh Hazlewood Rejected at the start of the season and Yash Dayal also unavailable, the franchise was left with limited options. With Seamer of New Zealand Jacob DuffyThushara was the frontrunner, especially given his earlier IPL experience. He was part of RCB in 2025, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1 for 26 in four overs. Last season, he took eight wickets at an average of 32.12 while representing Mumbai Indians.
