Sam Curran opted out of IPL 2026. Image Credits - AFP
On Friday evening, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were eliminated from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans (GT). After the hard loss, the RR team management decided to expose English all-rounder Sam Curran's double standards.
Another Vaibhav Sooryavanshi special, a 47-ball 96, took Rajasthan's total to 214/6. However, it turned out to be not enough, as the GT openers single-handedly tilted the game in their favour.
Shubman Gill slammed his first century of the season, while his opening partner Sai Sudharsan also batted prolifically. The two shared a mammoth partnership of 167 runs against the top bowling line-up like RR's. Eventually, GT got home in 18.4 overs with seven wickets to spare.
RR unmasks Sam Curran's double standards
After Gujarat broke RR's dream of reaching the final, head coach Kumar Sangakkara criticised the acquisition of Sam Curran, who was traded by the franchise in exchange for Sanju Samson.
The English all-rounder decided to miss the IPL 2026, citing a suspected groin issue, but after doing well in the T20 World Cup 2026.
In Curran's absence, the RR management had signed up Dasun Shanaka as replacement. However, the RR absentee was seen featuring in the T20 Blast 2026.
"We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury. But I think I saw him playing for Surrey for two or three games now. So that was disappointing. We would have loved to have had him here playing for us. But I think (it was good) having Dasun Shanaka as a replacement when we were told early," Kumar Sangakkara said in the post-match presser after Qualifier 2.
Sam Curran skips IPL 2026; features in T20 Blast
Interestingly, Sam Curran has played three T20 Blast games for Surrey, with the English tournament colliding with the business end of the IPL 2026. In his defence, Curran is leading the team but playing solely as a batter.
So far in the tournament, the 27-year-old all-rounder has slammed 141 runs at an average of 70.50 and a strike rate of 143.88, with a best score of 71 not out.
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Sam Curran absence felt by RR in IPL 2026
RR heavily relied on their top order in IPL 2026, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel doing the major heavy lifting. However, whenever the top three failed, no one except Donovan Ferreira could rescue them.
The team management tried multiple options in the form of Shimron Hetmyer, Dasun Shanaka and even Shubman Dubey, but none of them could fare that well. Thus, they missed a utility player like Sam Curran, who would also have helped Jofra Archer with the ball.
Despite the shortcoming, RR not only qualified for the playoffs but outsmarted Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, before getting knocked out by GT.
Can BCCI ban Curran? Writer concludes
The BCCI has decided to ban overseas players who opt out just prior to an IPL season, but the Sam Curran case falls into a grey zone, as he had missed due to an injury.
If the apex board decides to investigate the matter, the cricketer or his manager could easily say that Curran's recovery was fast-tracked before the T20 Blast 2026. Moreover, he has played only as a batter, at least in the first three games.
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