Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of Australia national cricket team’s upcoming three-match ODI tour of Pakistan due to an ankle injury sustained during IPL 2026.
Cricket Australia confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will captain the side in Marsh’s absence for the series, which begins on May 30.
The injury is another setback for Marsh after an impressive IPL campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, where he finished as the franchise’s leading run-scorer with 563 runs.
Injury Ends Marsh’s Pakistan Tour
Marsh picked up the ankle injury during the latter stages of the IPL season and subsequently missed Lucknow Super Giants’ final league fixture against Punjab Kings on May 23.
According to Cricket Australia, the all-rounder will remain in Perth for further medical assessment and rehabilitation.
The board also confirmed that no replacement player has been added to Australia’s ODI squad for the Pakistan series.
While Marsh is unavailable for the Pakistan tour, Australia are still hopeful he can recover in time for the white-ball tour of Bangladesh scheduled in June.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson stated that his availability for the Bangladesh series will be determined after further evaluation.
Josh Inglis to Lead Australia
With Marsh unavailable and regular ODI captain Pat Cummins absent from the tour, leadership responsibilities have been handed to Josh Inglis.
The wicketkeeper-batter has limited captaincy experience at international level but has previously led Australia in:
- One ODI
- Three T20Is
All of those matches came against Pakistan national cricket team during Australia’s home season in 2024.
The Pakistan series therefore offers Inglis another opportunity to strengthen his leadership credentials within the national setup.
Australia Resting Multiple Senior Players
Australia’s Pakistan tour squad is missing several senior stars as part of Cricket Australia’s workload management strategy ahead of a packed international calendar.
Apart from Marsh, the squad is also without:
- Pat Cummins
- Josh Hazlewood
- Mitchell Starc
- Travis Head
Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc are being rested from the Bangladesh tour as well, while Travis Head is expected to rejoin the squad for that assignment.
The trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc are also involved in the IPL 2026 playoffs with their respective franchises, which begin on May 26.
Cricket Australia has increasingly prioritised careful workload management for its fast bowlers, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup already part of long-term planning.
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Marsh’s IPL Form Was Outstanding
The injury comes after one of Mitchell Marsh’s best IPL seasons.
Representing Lucknow Super Giants, Marsh played a major role in the team’s batting lineup and consistently delivered aggressive performances at the top order.
His tally of 563 runs made him LSG’s highest run-scorer of the season and reinforced his importance across white-ball formats for Australia.
Marsh has become a central figure in Australia’s limited-overs plans due to his ability to contribute both with the bat and as a medium-pace option.
His absence therefore weakens Australia’s balance significantly heading into the Pakistan series.
Important Opportunity for Australia’s Depth Players
With several established names unavailable, the Pakistan tour offers valuable opportunities for Australia’s younger and fringe players.
Series like these are increasingly being used by major cricket nations to test squad depth and prepare backup options ahead of ICC tournaments.
Australia’s management will closely monitor how newer players handle leadership responsibilities and pressure situations away from home.
Josh Inglis in particular could benefit greatly from the experience of captaining an international side in overseas conditions.
ODI Series Schedule
The three-match ODI series between Australia and Pakistan will begin in Rawalpindi before moving to Lahore for the remaining two matches.
Schedule:
- 1st ODI – Rawalpindi
- 2nd ODI – Lahore
- 3rd ODI – Lahore
The series will serve as an important preparation phase for both teams ahead of future ICC events and upcoming bilateral commitments.
For Australia, however, immediate attention will remain focused on Mitchell Marsh’s recovery timeline and whether he can regain fitness before the Bangladesh tour begins next month.