Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has raised concerns over Sam Curran’s absence from the IPL after the England all-rounder was recently seen playing for Surrey in the ongoing T20 Blast despite withdrawing from the tournament due to injury.
Sangakkara Expresses Disappointment Over Curran’s IPL Exit
Sam Curran was expected to play a crucial role for Rajasthan Royals after joining the franchise in a high-profile trade deal. However, the England international pulled out of the IPL following the T20 World Cup, citing a groin injury, forcing the Royals to bring in Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement.
Speaking after Rajasthan Royals’ exit from the tournament in the second qualifier, Sangakkara admitted he was surprised and disappointed to see Curran return to competitive cricket for Surrey while the IPL season was still underway.
According to Sangakkara, the franchise had been informed that Curran was suffering from a season-ending injury, making his participation in county cricket unexpected.
Sam Curran Impresses for Surrey in T20 Blast
Despite concerns over his fitness earlier this year, Curran has captained Surrey in the opening matches of the T20 Blast and has emerged as one of the competition’s leading run-scorers. While he has not bowled yet, his presence on the field has raised questions about his availability during the IPL season.
Earlier, Curran had acknowledged that his groin issue had worsened over time and required a rehabilitation period. The all-rounder described missing the IPL as a difficult decision and expressed disappointment at being unable to participate in the tournament.
Sangakkara Supports BCCI’s Strict Player Availability Rules
The Rajasthan Royals coach also backed the BCCI’s strict stance on overseas players withdrawing after being selected in the IPL auction. Sangakkara emphasized the importance of honoring contractual commitments and maintaining transparency regarding injuries.
He noted that several overseas players in the Royals squad remained committed to the team throughout the season despite receiving limited game time. Players such as Adam Milne, Shimron Hetmyer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Kwena Maphaka continued to support the squad through training sessions and team duties.
IPL Franchises May Benefit From Stronger Regulations
Sangakkara stated that clear policies regarding player withdrawals are essential for maintaining the integrity of the competition. While acknowledging that genuine injuries are unavoidable, he stressed that IPL franchises should be protected from unexpected withdrawals that impact team planning and balance.
The comments have sparked fresh debate about player commitments, injury management, and franchise rights in the IPL, with Sam Curran’s situation likely to remain a talking point ahead of future seasons.
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