Josh Inglis’ big payday at the IPL 2026 auction has triggered quiet unrest within league circles, with questions emerging over whether all franchises were working with the same information regarding the Australian wicketkeeper-batter’s availability.

Inglis was snapped up by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 8.6 crore after a bidding tussle with SunRisers Hyderabad, despite a BCCI communication indicating that he would be available for only four matches next season. The development has left Punjab Kings particularly aggrieved, with officials believing they may have released the player without full clarity on his plans.

According to sources, Inglis had informed PBKS earlier that personal commitments would significantly limit his participation in IPL 2026. He reportedly told the franchise that his wedding was scheduled for April 18followed immediately by a honeymoon, which would restrict his availability to just 10–14 days in late May. Acting on this information, PBKS released him barely 45 minutes before the retention deadline on November 15 and formally informed the BCCI.

What has raised eyebrows is the possibility that Inglis may now be available for a longer stretch. PBKS officials feel blindsided after seeing franchises bid aggressively, suggesting others may have anticipated a change in plans. The franchise is now considering approaching the BCCI for clarification on the matter.

An SRH representative acknowledged that Inglis’ personal schedule was never completely fixed. “He obviously was going to be out for personal reasons, and that’s always subject to change,” SRH bowling coach Varun Aaron said after the auction. “With the relationship Dan [Vettori] has with him, we thought he could maybe be convinced to play a few extra games.”

Sources indicate Inglis could postpone his honeymoon and join IPL duties soon after his wedding, or even feature at the start of the season before briefly leaving for the ceremony. LSG head coach Justin Langer, a fellow Western Australian, is understood to be in discussions with the player.

While Inglis’ 2025 IPL season was not exceptional statistically — 278 runs in 11 matches at an average of 30.88 and strike rate of 162.6 — his impact performances came at crucial moments. His 73 off 42 balls against Mumbai Indians in the final league game and 38 off 21 in Qualifier 2 played key roles in Punjab Kings’ run to the final.

With franchises now questioning whether all teams had equal access to information, Inglis’ availability has become an unexpected subplot of the IPL 2026 auction — one that may yet invite further scrutiny from the league and the BCCI.