Lockie Ferguson will be missing the initial games of the Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL season as he has recently become a father and wants to spend time with his family before joining the team in India. The New Zealand pacer expressed his desire to be with his wife and newborn son before heading to the later stages of the IPL. Ferguson had previously taken a short paternity leave during the 2026 T20 World Cup but had to return to the Black Caps for the Super Eights, limiting his time with his family.
In Ferguson’s absence, Punjab Kings have a strong pool of pace bowlers to choose from, including Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Yash Thakur, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Marcus Stoinis. Ferguson’s experience will be missed, but the team has capable replacements to fill his shoes.
The 34-year-old expressed his desire to support his wife and help out at home before focusing on cricket again. He plans to join the team later in the tournament and is looking forward to contributing to their success. The Punjab Kings will have to manage without Ferguson for the initial games but have a strong squad to rely on in his absence.
The news of Ferguson’s paternity leave was confirmed before the third T20I against South Africa, with the player prioritizing family time before diving back into his cricket commitments. Published on Mar 20, 2026.
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