Punjab Kings have been dealt an early-season setback ahead of IPL 2026, with New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson set to miss the first half of the tournament due to personal reasons. While the experienced fast bowler remains a part of the PBKS squad, he has confirmed that he will be unavailable for the initial seven league matches as he prioritises time with his family following the birth of his child.
Speaking to reporters in Auckland after his impressive outing against South Africa, Ferguson made it clear that this break is a conscious personal decision. The 34-year-old, who recently became a father, expressed his desire to support his wife and spend quality time at home before returning to competitive cricket later in the IPL season.
“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 heading to the later stages of the IPL,” Lockie Ferguson said.
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While his decision has drawn mixed reactions from fans on social media, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over the implications of such a move from a team perspective. The crux of the debate lies in balancing personal priorities with professional commitments, especially in a high-stakes tournament like the IPL.
Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, questioned the timing of Ferguson’s absence and whether franchises should be wary of such situations. He acknowledged the importance of family but stressed that contractual commitments also carry weight.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
KKR suffer another injury blow as Akash Deep is ruled out of #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/ZTgFGl73mr
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 21, 2026
“I’m thinking about Lockie Ferguson. Is he injured? I don’t know. What I read is he is not available for seven matches because he wants to spend time with family,” Aakash Chopra said.
He added further nuance to his argument by admitting that valuing family is completely natural, but pointed out the larger concern from a franchise standpoint.
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“It’s not a bad thing. You should never judge anyone. I love spending time with my family too. But if you’ve made a commitment and you’re leaving seven matches in the IPL for that, then teams will have to think whether this is right,” he added. Ferguson’s absence will certainly test Punjab Kings’ squad depth early in IPL 2026. However, it also brings into focus a broader conversation around player workload, mental well-being, and personal choices in modern-day cricket.
