Sam Curran IPL 2026 injury has thrown a spanner in the works for Rajasthan Royals, but the franchise is close to resolving the crisis, with Sam Curran set to miss the season due to a suspected groin injury. RR have been dealt an early blow ahead of IPL 2026, with Sam Curran set to miss the season due to a suspected groin injury. He joins the long list of IPL 2026 injured players. The England allrounder, who last featured in the T20 World Cup semi-final on March 5, has not received medical clearance yet. Now, Rajasthan Royals are close to signing Dasun Shanaka as his replacement, revealed Cricbuzz. Rajasthan Royals ownership is already creating confusion for the franchise when the Sam Curran injury update hit them.
(updated on March 22 with Sam Curran replacement update)
Sam Curran IPL 2026 Injury Update
Sam Curran IPL 2026 injury has handed Rajasthan Royals an early setback, with the England allrounder set to miss the upcoming season due to a suspected groin issue.
Curran last played on March 5 during the T20 World Cup semi-final, and there has been no positive recovery update since. The uncertainty around Sam Curran availability IPL 2026 now strongly suggests he is unlikely to feature at all this season, forcing RR to act quickly on a replacement.
Why Sam Curran’s Absence Is A Big Blow For RR
Curran was expected to be a key part of Rajasthan Royals’ balance after arriving from Chennai Super Kings in a major trade.
He offered:
- Left-arm seam option across phases (powerplay + death)
- Lower-order batting depth
- Tactical flexibility in team combinations
With the Sam Curran IPL 2026 injury, RR lose a multi-phase contributor rather than just a squad player, which directly impacts their XI balance. He offered left-arm seam across phases, lower-order batting depth, and tactical flexibility in team combinations. With the Sam Curran IPL 2026 injury, RR lose a multi-phase contributor rather than just a squad player, which directly impacts their XI balance under Riyan Parag the new RR captain.
Dasun Shanaka Named Sam Curran Replacement For RR IPL 2026
The Sam Curran replacement IPL 2026 saga appears to be resolved, with Rajasthan Royals closing in on Dasun Shanaka. A top Royals official confirmed the signing to Cricbuzz, saying “Yes, we’re close to signing him. A few formalities are pending. He has to complete some paperwork with Sri Lankan Cricket.”
Shanaka’s move to RR is another instance of a PSL-to-IPL switch that has caused friction between the two leagues. The Sri Lanka allrounder had gone unsold at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi before securing a deal with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL auction for PKR 75 lakh.
He now joins Blessing Muzarabani — who left Islamabad United to join KKR — as the second high-profile PSL departure for IPL 2026. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has hinted at potential legal action against players who breach PSL contracts.
The choice of Shanaka is hardly a surprise given RR’s coaching setup. Head coach Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lankan, while assistant coach Vikram Rathour worked with Sri Lanka as batting coach during the T20 World Cup, where Shanaka captained the side and impressed with two half-centuries despite the co-hosts’ semifinal exit.
Within the RR squad for IPL 2026, there is a prominent option in Donovan Ferreira, who adds power-hitting and part-time spin, but is more batting-focused
Is Dasun Shanaka A Like-For-Like Sam Curran Replacement?
Shanaka brings experience and proven IPL exposure as the Dasun Shanaka RR replacement, though his profile differs slightly from Curran’s. The former Sri Lanka captain is more batting-heavy compared to Curran but still offers medium-pace overs when needed. His ability to contribute at multiple phases of the game made him an attractive option, even if he may not fully replicate Curran’s bowling workload. RR’s coaching staff, however, clearly back him to fill the void — and their familiarity with him from the T20 World Cup cycle will have made the decision easier.
The Sam Curran injury update leaves Rajasthan Royals with greater clarity now that a replacement has been identified. Whether Shanaka can match Curran’s impact with both bat and ball will be one of the early subplots of RR’s IPL 2026 campaign under Riyan Parag.
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