Rajasthan Royals have had a tough start to their IPL 2026 preparations, losing Sam Curran to a groin injury before the season even begins. But they have moved fast to fill the gap, bringing in Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Dasun Shanaka — who has, in the process, walked out of his PSL contract for the second big-league switch this season.

Curran Out, Shanaka In

Sam Curran’s last appearance on a cricket field was on March 5 during the T20 World Cup 2026, where England lost to eventual champions India in the semi-finals. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with a suspected groin injury and ruled out of IPL 2026 entirely.

It was a particularly bitter pill for RR, given that they had just acquired Curran in a high-profile pre-auction trade with Chennai Super Kings last November — a deal that also brought Ravindra Jadeja to Pink City, with Sanju Samson heading the other way to CSK.

RR director of cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara did not hide his disappointment, but was quick to express confidence in the replacement.

“We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season. Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side.”

Shanaka has been signed for ₹2 crore as a replacement player.

Shanaka’s IPL Journey So Far

This will not be Shanaka’s first IPL stint. He played for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 as a replacement for the injured Kane Williamson, scoring 26 runs in three games. He was also picked up by GT as a mid-season replacement in IPL 2025 for the injured Glenn Phillips, but did not get a game.

Shanaka went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction and was subsequently picked up by Lahore Qalandars in the PSL for PKR 75 lakh. But when the RR opportunity came up, he chose to inform the Qalandars of his withdrawal and pursue the IPL contract instead.

In international cricket, Shanaka has played 6 Tests, 71 ODIs and 131 T20Is, amassing over 3,350 runs and 86 wickets — numbers that show he is a genuine all-round option at this level.

Another PSL Exit — A Growing Pattern

Shanaka’s move makes him the second overseas player this season to leave PSL for the IPL, after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani ditched Islamabad United to sign with Kolkata Knight Riders. The trend mirrors what happened last year, when South Africa’s Corbin Bosch left Peshawar Zalmi mid-PSL to join Mumbai Indians — a move that earned him a one-year ban from the PCB.

PCB has already warned that it will take action against players who breach PSL contracts, and chairman Mohsin Naqvi has threatened multi-year bans. But with IPL fees significantly higher and the tournament’s global profile far greater, those warnings have done little to stop the flow.

RR’s Campaign Starts Against CSK

With the Shanaka signing confirmed, Rajasthan Royals will head into their IPL 2026 opener against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on March 30 with their squad balance largely intact. It will also be an emotionally charged match — the first time Curran and Jadeja’s former team CSK faces the side that traded them away.