Sam Curran has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League 2026 in a major blow to Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, March 19. The star English all-rounder is reportedly suffering a groin issue and is likely to be sidelined for months.
According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, Sam Curran is set to miss IPL 2026 due to a 'suspected groin issue'. He last played in the T20 World Cup semifinals against India and was expected to join his new IPL team before the season-opener on March 28.
The 27-year-old was signed by the Royals via a trade deal involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson with Chennai Super Kings. Curran previously played for Punjab Kings and boasts 997 runs and 59 wickets in 64 IPL matches.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have already been working out on Curran's replacements, having a shortage of pace all-rounders in their squad for the IPL 2026. Two spin all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi and Donovan Ferreira, are expected to lead the spin unit, while Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, and Nandre Burger are likely to form a pace attack for the Royals in the upcoming cash-rich league.
Also read: Lockie Ferguson to delay his IPL 2026 participation in major blow to PBKS: Report
Rajasthan Royals to begin their IPL 2026 campaign without Sam Curran on March 29
Rajasthan Royals are set to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign in a home game against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30. With new captain Riyan Parag and coach Kumar Sangakkara, the 2008 IPL champions are looking all set for the title bid.
Even without Sanju Samson and star all-rounder Sam Curran, the Royals have one of the best squads in the league on paper. Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh, Adam Milne, and Kuldeep Sen are likely to step up in Curran's absence.
Meanwhile, the 14-year-old batting prodigy Viabhav Sooryavanshi is likely to open an innings for the Royals with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer are expected to fill the middle-order roles according to the situation, followed by Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja in all-rounder roles.
Rajasthan Royals updated squad for the IPL 2026: Riyan Parag (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen
Also read: Nathan Ellis ruled out of IPL 2026; CSK seek replacement
