Rajasthan Royals have been dealt an untimely blow before a ball is bowled. Sam Curran, the England all-rounder they traded in for the new season, is almost certain to sit out IPL 2026 with what team doctors believe is a groin strain.
“The scans weren’t encouraging, so we’re preparing for life without Sam for now,” a Royals medical staffer told local media on Wednesday. Curran himself has not spoken publicly, but his agent confirmed that “rehab is the priority”.
Key facts first.
• Curran, 27, last played on 5 March in England’s T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India.
• He was secured by Royals in November when Chennai Super Kings swapped him and Ravindra Jadeja for Sanju Samson.
• IPL regulations allow franchises to sign an overseas replacement once a player is officially ruled out.
Why does it matter? Curran’s left-arm swing and lower-order hitting offer the two-in-one package every side craves. Since debuting for Punjab Kings in 2019, he has picked up 42 IPL wickets and scored 613 runs; inconsistent numbers, yet the upside is obvious when form and fitness align.
Kumar Sangakkara, Royals’ director of cricket, kept things measured. “We’ll assess all options, but there’s no panic. Our squad still covers the bases,” he said during a sponsors’ event. He pointed to Jadeja’s all-round pedigree and to Donovan Ferreira — “a powerful lad who bowls useful off-spin” — as immediate in-house solutions.
Possible replacements from outside include Australia’s Sean Abbott or South Africa’s Wayne Parnell, both experienced seamer-batters currently unsold. Royals have sounded out several names, though nothing is final.
Analytically, losing Curran hurts Royals most at the death: his ability to bowl cutters into the pitch and clear the ropes later on had been pencilled in for overs 16-20. Without him, Jadeja may have to shoulder extra bowling, and the batting depth shrinks by one.
Curran, bought for only INR 2.4 crore at last year’s auction after a hit-and-miss stint as the league’s costliest player two seasons earlier, was looking to reset his IPL reputation. Instead, he faces a spell on the sidelines. Rehabilitation timelines for moderate groin tears range from six to ten weeks; the IPL is seven weeks long.
Royals will confirm their next move once the BCCI’s medical panel reviews Curran’s report — expected within the week.
