IPL 2026: PBKS owner Ness Wadia slams Josh Inglis for unprofessionalism

Punjab Kings owner Ness Wadia did not hold back while expressing his disappointment over Josh Inglis’ conduct ahead of IPL 2026, calling the Australian wicketkeeper-batter unprofessional. Wadia’s comments came after Inglis opted to prioritise international commitments, making himself available for only a limited number of matches in the upcoming season despite attracting a big bid at the auction.

The PBKS co-owner pointed out that franchises invest heavily with the expectation of full availability, especially when players have premium prices. Wadia stressed that transparency and professionalism are crucial in a league like the IPL, where team planning and balance depend heavily on player availability. Despite prior conformation his limited availability, he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants for INR 8.6 crore.

“We didn’t really let go of Josh. I mean, Josh unfortunately, sadly, only told us an the last minute, which was not very fair given that he had been with us for a while. I think everyone knew when the retention was coming, and we were informed by him 45 minutes before the deadline that he was getting married and needed time to relax and recuperate. He said he was going to be available only for a couple of weeks (three games). We told him he should have informed us earlier, I don’t think it was very professional of him.

I don’t think it is very professional of anyone if they know there is a deadline. You can’t call someone 45 minutes before and say. “Hey, I’m not coming. But I wish him all the best. He is a good player and I am sure he will do well for Australia. And let’s see whether he plays in the IPL or not. I wish him all the best because he is a fellow human being. But, the manner in which he behaved was not very professional,” Ness Wadia was quoted as saying to Sportstar.