Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of his side’s opening ICC T20 World Cup 2026 match against Ireland due to a groin injury, further compounding the team’s injury troubles ahead of the tournament. Australia began their campaign in Colombo without their regular skipper in a significant early setback.

Cricket Australia confirmed that Marsh sustained the injury during a training session earlier this week. The all-rounder reportedly hurt his groin while receiving sidearm throwdowns on Sunday and was subsequently declared unfit for the tournament opener. In his absence, Travis Head stepped in to lead Australia for the toss against Ireland.

Marsh’s unavailability adds to Australia’s growing list of concerns. The team had already lost frontline pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries in the buildup to the global event. Missing three senior players, including the captain, presents a considerable challenge for the defending champions as they look to establish early momentum.

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Amid uncertainty surrounding Marsh’s recovery timeline, Cricket Australia is reportedly moving quickly to bring Steve Smith into the squad as a potential replacement. Smith was not included in the original T20 World Cup squad and has not featured in a T20 International since February 2024.

However, Smith’s recent domestic form strengthens his case for inclusion. He scored 299 runs in six innings for the Sydney Sixers in the latest Big Bash League season, averaging 59.8 at a strike rate of 167.97. While the extent of Marsh’s injury remains unclear, Australia will be hoping for a swift recovery as the tournament progresses.

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