Rajasthan Royals coach questions England all-rounder’s commitment after he played county cricket despite claiming season-ending injury

Sangakkara’s sharp reaction

Kumar Sangakkara has openly questioned Sam Curran’s integrity after the England all-rounder pulled out of IPL 2026 with a supposed season-ending injury, only to turn up for Surrey weeks later. The Rajasthan Royals head coach did not hide his disappointment.

Speaking after his side’s Qualifier-2 loss to Gujarat Titans on Friday evening, Sangakkara said, “We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, but I saw him play two or three games for Surrey. That was disappointing because we would have loved to have had him here with us.”

The former Sri Lankan captain’s remarks have reignited a long-standing debate over foreign player availability in the IPL. Curran, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a significant sum in the 2025 auction, left the franchise mid-season citing physical distress.

Shanaka fails to impress

After Curran’s sudden exit, the Royals brought in Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement. However, the move did not pay off as expected. Shanaka managed only sporadic contributions with both bat and ball, and the team’s balance appeared affected during the crucial playoff stages.

Sources close to the franchise indicated that the management had banked on Curran’s experience in crunch situations. “When you lose a player of that calibre midway, it disrupts plans. The replacement option is never truly like-for-like,” a team insider said on condition of anonymity.

Call for stricter rules

Sangakkara used the opportunity to push for tighter contractual obligations. He acknowledged that genuine injuries are unavoidable but drew a line when players are seen competing elsewhere soon after.

“I think a proper, tight policy around that is always a requirement. BCCI has a strict policy on that. Every person goes through injuries. And if it’s a serious injury, a season-ending injury, of course, we understand,” he said.

“That’s the way it should continue – be very strict to make sure that contractual obligations are all met properly and genuinely. And I think every side in the IPL will benefit from that,” Sangakkara added.

His comments come at a time when the BCCI has already tightened norms. Under existing rules, any overseas player who withdraws after being sold in the auction faces a two-year ban from the tournament.

Punjab Kings owner echoes concern

Mohit Burman, co-owner of Punjab Kings, has separately voiced similar concerns. According to Burman, the BCCI and foreign cricket boards need better coordination to ensure that franchises are not left scrambling for replacements after the auction window closes.

“Player availability should be non-negotiable once the contracts are signed. We’ve seen multiple instances where teams have suffered because a marquee name pulls out at the last moment,” Burman was quoted as saying by team sources.

BCCI’s two-year ban rule already in place

The IPL governing council had introduced the two-year ban provision following repeated instances of overseas players skipping editions after being picked. Under the rule, any player who makes himself unavailable after the auction – barring extreme medical or national duty cases – cannot register for the next two seasons.

However, the rule does not explicitly address mid-season withdrawals citing injury, which is where the grey area remains. Curran’s case, as highlighted by Sangakkara, falls precisely into that gap.

What next for player availability debate?

With Sangakkara’s latest outburst, the spotlight is back on how IPL franchises can protect themselves from last-minute pullouts. While the BCCI’s existing framework is considered a deterrent, cases like Curran’s suggest that enforcement and verification of injury claims still need work.

The Royals, now knocked out, will head into the next auction with lessons learned. Whether the BCCI revisits its policy to include stricter medical verification for season-ending claims remains to be seen. For now, Sangakkara’s words have ensured the conversation will not fade quietly.

In a dramatic display of resilience, England all-rounder Sam Curran scripted a remarkable turnaround, claiming a historic hat-trick to propel his team to an 11-run victory over Sri Lanka via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the first T20I at Pallekele. The win gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, serving as a vital confidence boost just days before the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

A Dramatic Turnaround: From Tap to Triumph

Sam Curran's night was a tale of two extremes. His first two overs were brutally dispatched, conceding 35 runs as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis took a particular liking to his bowling. However, returning for the 16th over with Sri Lanka at 129/6, Curran turned the game on its head.

He dismissed captain Dasun Shanaka (20), caught at mid-off, with the first ball. Maheesh Theekshana holed out to long-on on the next delivery. With the stadium rapt, Curran fired a full, straight ball that clean bowled the slingy Matheesha Pathirana, sending the stumps flying and sealing a memorable Sam Curran T20I hat-trick. He joined Chris Jordan, who achieved the feat in the 2024 World Cup, as only the second Englishman to take a T20I hat-trick.

"Pretty cool to say I’ve got a hat-trick but a weird night personally after getting a bit of tap in the first couple of overs!" Curran said after the match. "T20 is such an up and down thing".

Match Context: Rain, Spin, and a Managed Chase

The match was heavily affected by rain, reducing the contest to 17 overs per side. After England chose to bowl, Sri Lanka raced to 75/1 in 7 overs before a collapse engineered by England's spinners.

Spin Duo Destroys Middle Order: The experienced pair of Adil Rashid (3-19) and Liam Dawson (2-31) triggered a dramatic collapse, taking five wickets for just 22 runs. Rashid's masterful spell, which earned him Player of the Match, was highlighted by his working over of Dhananjaya de Silva, whom he confounded with googlies before inducing a top-edge.

Chase Anchored by Salt: Set 134, England's chase was steadied by Phil Salt's 46 from 35 balls. Tom Banton provided crucial momentum with a rapid 29 from just 15 deliveries. Rain returned with England at 125/4 after 15 overs, comfortably ahead of the DLS par score, handing them the win.

World Cup Implications and Looking Ahead

This series is the final preparation for both teams before the T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. For England, the positive signs extended beyond Curran's heroics:

Archer's Encouraging Return: Jofra Archer, playing his first match since the Ashes, bowled with encouraging pace and showed no ill effects from his previous side strain.

Building Winning Momentum: "Winning is a confidence boost and a habit," Curran noted, emphasizing the importance of form heading into the global tournament.

Sri Lanka will be concerned by their middle-order frailty against quality spin but can take heart from Pathirana's tight bowling (1-18 from 4 overs).

The second T20I of the series will be played at the same Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 1. Both teams will be looking to fine-tune their combinations one last time before World Cup action commences.

Sam Curran Leads Desert Vipers to Historic ILT20 Triumph

Desert Vipers finally scripted history in the ILT20 Final as captain Sam Curran delivered a memorable all-round leadership performance to guide his team to their maiden ILT20 title. The Vipers defeated defending champions MI Emirates by 46 runs at Dubai, ending years of near-misses and heartbreak in finals.

After losing two previous title clashes, this victory marked a defining moment for the franchise and underlined why Desert Vipers have been the most consistent side of the season.

Sam Curran Anchors the Innings with Composed 74

Batting first in the high-pressure final, Desert Vipers posted a competitive 182 for 4 in 20 overs. Skipper Sam Curran stood tall with an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls, playing the perfect anchor role while keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Key contributions with the bat included:

 Sam Curran: 74 (51 balls)

 Max Holden: 41 (32 balls)

 Dan Lawrence: 23 (15 balls)

The Vipers got an aggressive start through Fakhar Zaman and Jason Roy, but MI Emirates pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi struck twice to slow the momentum. At that stage, Curran took complete control, rotating the strike smartly and finding boundaries at crucial intervals.

A strong finish, with 46 runs in the final four overs, pushed the total beyond the 180-mark — a turning point in the match.

Bowlers Dominate as MI Emirates Collapse

Defending 183, Desert Vipers’ bowlers delivered a clinical performance. Naseem Shah set the tone early with sharp pace and movement, picking up 3 wickets for just 18 runs. His early breakthroughs ensured MI Emirates never settled into the chase.

Bowling highlights for Desert Vipers:

 Naseem Shah: 3/18

 David Payne: 3/42

 Usman Tariq: 2/20

Wickets fell regularly, and pressure mounted with every over. MI Emirates struggled to build partnerships, losing key batters inside the powerplay.

MI Emirates Fall Short in the Chase

MI Emirates’ chase of 183 never gained momentum. Early intent from Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher was short-lived, as the scoreboard read 46 for 3 inside six overs. Experienced campaigners Shakib Al Hasan (36) and Kieron Pollard attempted a rescue act, but the rising required run rate proved too much.

Once Shakib and Pollard were dismissed, the innings collapsed dramatically. MI Emirates lost their last six wickets for just 22 runs and were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs.

A Historic Night for Desert Vipers

The final wicket triggered emotional celebrations as Desert Vipers lifted their first-ever ILT20 trophy. Captain Sam Curran was rightly praised for his calm leadership and match-defining knock, proving why he is among the most valuable all-rounders in modern T20 cricket.

With this win, ILT20 continues its unique trend of producing a new champion every season, reinforcing the league’s growing competitiveness and global appeal.

For Desert Vipers, this victory was not just a title — it was redemption, resilience, and reward for consistency.