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Fact check: Did Josh Inglis assure LSG of playing the full IPL 2026 season?

Akshita Patel

Josh Inglis' availability turns into controversy [Source: @kumarmanoj_11, @PantasticNoah/X.com]Josh Inglis' availability turns into controversy [Source: @kumarmanoj_11, @PantasticNoah/X.com]

Josh Inglis, the Australian wicket-keeper, was sold to LSG for ₹8.60 crores during the IPL 2026 mini-auction. However, a tweet has now gone viral, suggesting Inglis has confirmed LSG of his full availability for the upcoming season.

Let’s start with a little back story here. Punjab Kings, led by Ricky Ponting, decided to release Inglis before the IPL 2026 auction due to his unavailability for the entire season.

Though Inglis has made vital contributions in the second half of IPL 2025, the management of PBKS estimated that the Australian wicket-keeper is likely to be absent for a major part of the forthcoming tournament. 

Did Josh Inglis really deceive PBKS?

To be precise, Josh Inglis was expected to play only four games in IPL 2026. Ricky Ponting even publicly stated that limited availability played a key role in the decision to release the wicket-keeper, as PBKS aimed to free up overseas slots for the auction.

But the tables turned during the auction. Inglis triggered a bidding war, and Lucknow Super Giants won to buy him for ₹8.60 crores. First, the high bid raised a lot of eyebrows.

A screenshot went viral on social media. It suggested that Josh Inglis conveyed to LSG via head coach Justin Langer that he will be available for the entire IPL 2026 season and hence, Lucknow bid too hard for him.

Viral tweet busted [Source: @PantasticNoah/X.com]Viral tweet busted [Source: @PantasticNoah/X.com]

The tweet instantly went viral. However, as it turns out, the statement supposedly from Shashwat Goenka was made up and posted by a parody account. It was fake with no proof to back the claim.

Also, Josh Inglis has himself confirmed that he will not be a part of the complete season for IPL 2026. 

Speaking to ABC Sport after the IPL 2026 mini auction, Inglis stated that he would be getting married in early April 2026 and hence, we might see him playing in the IPL for only the 2nd half of the tournament.

Although, Josh Inglis has not commented about the number of games that he will be available for, it remains to be seen whether he can play beyond 4 games given the amount of money that has been splashed on him by LSG.  

LSG secure Nortje, Hasaranga

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants also bought Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje in the IPL 2026 auction for ₹2 crores each. They also invested in domestic options such as pacer Naman Tiwari and young batter Akshat Raghuvanshi. 

PBKS, meanwhile, had a quiet day. They had their core settled and just secured Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey and Vishal Nishad.