West Australian Cam Green has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League in March by Royal Challengers Bangaluru, who released him on Thursday night.

The injured all-rounder was likely to be touch-and-go for the tournament after heading to New Zealand for back surgery last month.

Cricket Australia put a six-month timeline on his recovery, which would have left him in a race to be fit for the franchise tournament.

But after releasing the 25-year-old before the retention deadline on Thursday night, RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat said they would have held on to Green if he was fit.

“There was one other player we certainly would have retained. That’s Cameron Green, but he’s unfortunately out of the IPL due to injury,” he said.

Green was already set to miss the entire home summer, including a bumper five-Test series against India, and a tour of Sri Lanka in January.

He could still throw his name into the ring for the auction and land at a third franchise after spending one season at Mumbai Indians on a deal worth around $3.1 million.

RCB, who retained Virat Kohli, also sent Glenn Maxwell and one-time Perth Scorchers batter Faf Du Plessis back into this year’s mega-auction.

Aussie white-ball captain Mitch Marsh was among a string of WA players released overnight with Delhi Capitals parting with both him and Jhye Richardson.

Fellow West Aussie Tim David’s future in the competition is clouded after he was released by Mumbai on Thursday night.

Lucknow Super Giants, coached by Justin Langer, have let WA all-rounder Marcus Stoinis go.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins and teammate Travis Held were locked away by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

David Warner was not retained by Delhi Capitals, Mitchell Starc was sent into the auction by Kolkata Knight Riders after a rollercoaster season earlier this year