Nuwan Thushara withdraws case against SLC after missing IPL 2026 opportunity

Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his legal case against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), bringing an end to a high-profile dispute over his participation in IPL 2026.

Thushara had earlier moved the Colombo District Court after SLC refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a mandatory requirement for Sri Lankan players to feature in overseas leagues like the IPL. The board had denied the clearance citing his failure to meet newly introduced fitness standards.

Why Thushara went to court

SLC refused to issue Thushara an NOC for IPL 2026 after he failed to meet the board's mandatory fitness standards, specifically falling short of the required score in the 2-km run test. The pacer, who has represented Sri Lanka in around 30 T20Is since his debut in 2022, challenged the decision, arguing that the denial was unfair and significantly impacted his professional opportunities. He was set to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, having previously featured in earlier seasons of IPL 2024 and 2025.

However, during the latest hearing, Thushara’s legal team informed the court that the player wished to withdraw the petition. With a major portion of the IPL season already completed, continuing the case no longer held practical value. The court subsequently dismissed the case following his request.

Apology and Reconciliation

In a significant development, Thushara also apologised to SLC and expressed his willingness to move on from the dispute. The move signals an attempt to repair his relationship with the national board after weeks of tension.

Nuwan Thushara was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 for ₹1.60 crore. Earlier, he was part of the Mumbai Indians, who had signed him for Rs 4.80 crore, and he impressed in his debut season by picking up eight wickets.

He was initially bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1/26.