Sam Curran & MS Dhoni (Source: AFP Photos)Rajasthan Royals suffered a major setback on Thursday, as Sam Curran is set to miss the entire IPL 2026. The England all-rounder, who got traded from the Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals in November last year, has sustained a groin issue, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.Curran was part of the blockbuster trade between CSK and Rajasthan Royals, where Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson shifted their sides alongside the Englishman. Unfortunately, Curran will not be able to participate in the IPL 2026, where Rajasthan Royals could be his third franchise in the competition, after Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).No Rajasthan Royals Debut For Sam Curran In IPL 2026Curran was supposed to play an important role in Rajasthan Royals middle order, where the likes of Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer are already there. However, things won’t go according to the original plan, as the 27-year-old will not be able to be fit for IPL 2026."Rajasthan Royals (RR) have hit a hurdle before the start of their IPL 2026 campaign as England allrounder Sam Curran is set to miss the season at his new franchise with a suspected groin issue," an ESPNCricinfo report read.Also Read: Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Squad Analysis: Predicted Playing XI, SWOT, Expected FinishAs things stand, RR have not made any announcements regarding Sam Curran’s IPL replacement.When Did Sam Curran Last Play?Curran was in action during the T20 World Cup 2026, where he was England’s main fast-bowling all-rounder. He played an important role to help the Harry Brook-led side reach the semi-finals, only to be beaten by India at a high-scoring fixture at Wankhede Stadium on March 3.Despite fiery pre-match words, Curran had a very dull night, particularly with the ball in hand. He conceded 53 runs off his four overs, that too without taking a wicket. Then, coming to bat, he could only muster 18 off 14 balls in a chase where England were set a record-breaking target of 254.How Did Sam Curran Perform In IPL 2025?Curran failed to live up to his lofty standards in IPL 2025, where he majorly played under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Even though he was a smart buy (INR 2.4 crore), he could not justify his value by punching above his weight.In IPL 2025, Curran played five matches and could only tally 114 runs. With the ball, he had an average of 133, courtesy of taking only 1 wicket, that too at an economy rate of 11.08.Hence, IPL 2026 was supposed to be Curran’s season for redemption in Rajasthan Royals. Curran, in particular, was looking forward because RR’s first IPL 2026 match is against Chennai Super Kings, his previous franchise.Unfortunately, nothing will happen in reality as the all-rounder will miss the entire season.Also Read: Shreyas Iyer’s PBKS Faces Major Setback As Key Player Confirms IPL 2026 Unavailability
