Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Kumar Sangakkara has expressed disappointment over Sam Curran’s absence from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The England all-rounder participated in the ongoing T20 Blast despite being ruled out of the IPL due to a reported season-ending injury.
After Rajasthan Royals’ run ended in Qualifier 2, Sangakkara stated that the team had been informed Curran would miss the entire season because of his injury. However, seeing him return to play for Surrey raised questions among the Royals staff.
“We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, but I think I saw him play two or three games for Surrey. That was disappointing because we would have loved to have had him here with us,” Sangakkara said.
Curran was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 2.40 crore before IPL 2026 but withdrew before the tournament due to a groin injury. The franchise then signed Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement.
Despite the setback of losing a key player, Sangakkara praised the team for quickly adjusting to the situation and performing well throughout the season.
“Having brought in Dasun Shanaka as a replacement after being informed early, I think the team and everyone involved should be extremely proud of what they’ve achieved,” he added.
Sangakkara also supported the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) rules regarding player withdrawals due to injury. He emphasized the need for clear guidelines to protect franchises that invest in their teams.
“A proper, tight policy around that is always a requirement, and the BCCI has a strict policy on it. Injuries are part of the game, and if it’s a serious, season-ending injury, of course we understand,” Sangakkara said.
Curran’s withdrawal was due to a groin issue, which had reportedly affected him during England’s campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year.
While Rajasthan Royals managed to navigate this challenge and had a strong season, Sangakkara’s remarks are likely to spark further discussion about player availability and communication between franchises and International cricketers during IPL.