IPL 2026:Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has finally opened up about his decision to skip the IPL 2026 season in favor of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Despite being one of the most successful white-ball spinners in the world, Zampa was a notable absentee from the IPL auction list after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Now representing the Karachi Kings in PSL 11, the 34-year-old revealed that his decision was based on a combination of financial valuation and the grueling time commitment required for the Indian Premier League.
The Financial Gap
Zampa noted that overseas wrist-spinners often do not receive the same high bids as other categories, such as fast bowlers or all-rounders. With IPL teams often filling their spin slots with local Indian talent, the market for international spinners has become increasingly narrow.
“I pulled out of the IPL this year. To be brutally honest, for someone with my skillset, you just don’t get the money that is there for other skillsets,” Zampa said during a recent interview on the ARY podcast.
He explained that when comparing the pay to the length of the tournament, the math simply did not add up for him this year. “For the amount of time that the IPL takes, it just didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing it,” he added.
The PSL Move
While Zampa had originally planned to take a break from the game, the opportunity to play in Pakistan materialized rapidly. The leg-spinner made an immediate impact for Karachi Kings, recently earning a Player of the Match award after a clinical spell of 2/11 against Lahore Qalandars.
“I was going to have a break but PSL was on the radar a month ago. It all happened really quick,” Zampa shared. The shorter 40-day window of the PSL compared to the 70-day IPL schedule allowed him the balance he was looking for in 2026.
Adam Zampa’s IPL Legacy
1. Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS)
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
3. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
4. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Despite his talent, he often found himself on the sidelines due to the four-overseas-player rule. In his 22 IPL matches, Zampa claimed 31 wickets at an economy rate of 8.38. His best performance remains a legendary 6/19 for Pune in his debut season, which still stands as one of the best bowling figures in the tournament’s history.
