Jaipur, March 24: Sri Lankan T20 captain Dasun Shanaka is set to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, stepping in for the injured Sam Curran in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad. The franchise has secured Shanaka for a sum of two crore rupees.
In an official announcement on Monday, it was confirmed that Shanaka will join the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Curran. The IPL’s statement noted, “Dasun Shanaka will join the Rajasthan Royals for two crore rupees in place of Sam Curran.” Shanaka has played six Tests, 71 ODIs, and 131 T20 internationals for Sri Lanka, accumulating over 3,350 runs and taking 86 wickets in international cricket. The 34-year-old all-rounder previously played three matches for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023.
“Shanaka Will Help Maintain Balance”
Rajasthan Royals’ head coach and team director Kumar Sangakkara expressed his disappointment at Curran’s injury, stating, “It is disheartening not to have a talented player like Sam available just before the season starts.” He added, “Sam is a valuable player for us with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal option in Dasun Shanaka. He is a finisher and an excellent all-rounder who will help maintain our team’s balance.”
Shanaka is the second international player to leave the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the IPL, following Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani. The Rajasthan Royals noted in their announcement that Shanaka has consistently performed well in T20 internationals for Sri Lanka, bringing his vast experience and composure to the Royals’ middle order.
The IPL 2026 season will kick off for the Rajasthan Royals on March 30, with a home match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati.
Sam Curran’s Transfer to Rajasthan
Sam Curran, who was part of the England team that lost to India in the T20 World Cup semifinals, was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals from Chennai Super Kings. In exchange, Sanju Samson will now play for the Chennai team. The 27-year-old Curran was bought for a staggering 18.5 crore rupees at the IPL 2023 auction but has been sidelined due to injury. Previously, he played for Chennai in 2020 and 2021 and joined the team for 2.4 crore before the last season, scoring 114 runs and taking one wicket.
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