RR coach questions allrounder’s absence after being told he had a season-ending injury
Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has expressed disappointment over Sam Curran’s return to action for Surrey in the Vitality Blast after the franchise had been informed that the England allrounder was unavailable for the IPL due to a season-ending injury.
Speaking after Rajasthan Royals’ exit in Qualifier 2, Sangakkara revealed the franchise’s frustration at seeing Curran back on the field while the IPL was still ongoing.
“We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, but I think I saw him playing for Surrey for two or three games now. So that was disappointing. We would have loved to have had him here playing for us,” Sangakkara said.
Curran, who joined Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 through a trade deal involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson, informed the franchise before the season that he would not be available due to a groin injury. As a result, RR signed Dasun Shanaka as his replacement.
That decision had wider consequences, with Shanaka withdrawing from his contract with Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League to join Rajasthan. The move led to a one-year PSL ban for the Sri Lankan allrounder.
Curran has since returned to competitive cricket with Surrey, featuring as a specialist batter while continuing to manage his injury. He has made an immediate impact, scoring 141 runs in his first three Vitality Blast innings and emerging as Surrey’s leading run-scorer.
The situation has once again sparked discussion around overseas players pulling out of IPL commitments. In 2024, the BCCI introduced a rule imposing a two-year ban on players who withdraw from the tournament after being selected at the auction without a valid reason.
Sangakkara backed the need for strong regulations while acknowledging that genuine injuries should always be respected.
“A proper, tight policy around that is always a requirement. The BCCI has a strict policy on it. If it’s a serious, season-ending injury, of course we understand,” he said.
The RR coach also stressed that player commitment extends beyond match appearances. He pointed to several overseas players who remained with the squad despite limited opportunities throughout the season.
“We’ve had players like Adam Milne, Shimron Hetmyer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka who stayed with the group, trained hard, supported the team and contributed in every way possible,” Sangakkara said.
While stopping short of directly criticising Curran’s decision, Sangakkara made it clear that franchises value players who remain engaged with the team environment, even when injuries or selection issues limit their involvement on the field.
“It’s up to the individual player whether they want to come or not, but the BCCI policy should remain very strict. Contractual obligations need to be met properly and genuinely, and every IPL team benefits from that,” he added.
Curran’s return to county cricket while missing the IPL is likely to keep the debate around player availability and franchise commitments firmly in focus ahead of future seasons.
