Sam Curran and Dasun Shanaka (Agency Image)

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has expressed disappointment over the absence of Sam Curran from the IPL 2026 season, calling it a significant setback for the franchise. The England all-rounder has been ruled out due to a groin injury just days before the tournament begins.In response, the Royals have moved swiftly to bring in Dasun Shanaka as Curran’s replacement, with the Sri Lankan T20I captain confirmed in an official announcement on Monday.Curran had arrived at Rajasthan Royals as part of a blockbuster pre-auction trade involving Chennai Super Kings. The deal saw CSK secure Sanju Samson, while the Royals acquired Curran alongside Ravindra Jadeja. However, his injury has now forced an early exit before he could make an impact this season.“We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season,” said Sangakkara, who serves as Director of Cricket and Head Coach at Rajasthan Royals.“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,” he added.Shanaka arrives with considerable T20 experience and is expected to slot into the lower middle order, offering both finishing ability and all-round depth. He previously featured in the IPL during the 2023 season for Gujarat Titans, where he played three matches.Shanaka’s move to RR makes him the second international player after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani to leave the Pakistan Super League for a stint in the Indian Premier League.Rajasthan Royals will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Following that clash, they are scheduled to face Gujarat Titans on April 4, Mumbai Indians on April 7, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.

Dasun Shanaka (Image: IANS)

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka is set to join the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the upcoming IPL 2026 season as a replacement for injured England all-rounder Sam Curran.RR have been forced into a late squad change after Sam Curran was ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury. The franchise quickly moved to secure Shanaka, with sources indicating that the deal is nearly complete, pending minor paperwork related to his commitments in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Another PSL-to-IPL Switch

Shanaka’s move marks yet another instance of players switching from the PSL to the IPL. Recently, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani left his PSL stint to join Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. This growing trend highlights the IPL’s continued dominance as the most lucrative and competitive T20 league in world cricket. RR, the inaugural IPL champions, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against five-time winners Chennai Super Kings at ACA Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. “The conversations are ongoing for Shanaka to join RR for the upcoming IPL season. Barring a few formalities which are yet to be completed, this seems to be a done deal and it’s pretty much going in that direction,” a franchise official told IANS on Sunday.

Shanaka’s Recent Form

Under Shanaka’s leadership, co-hosts Sri Lanka had crashed out in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, Shanaka scored 165 runs including a 31-ball 76 not out against Pakistan, while he also took three wickets in the T20 World Cup. Having gone unsold at the IPL’s mini-auction last December, Shanaka was picked up by PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Shanaka previously played in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans as a replacement for the injured New Zealand batter Kane Williamson, where he made 26 runs in three games. He was signed again by Gujarat Titans in 2025 as a mid-season replacement player for injured New Zealand batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips, but didn’t get a game to play. While Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara is the Royals’ head coach, former India batting coach Vikram Rathour is the assistant coach of the side. Rathour was the consulting batting coach of Sri Lanka during the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan created history in the must-win Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026, going past Virat Kohli to register the highest number of runs in a single edition of the tournament on Saturday.Kohli had scored 319 runs in six innings during the 2014 T20 World Cup, a record that had stood for years.

Farhan, however, overtook that mark with another fluent knock at a crucial time for Pakistan, emphasising his dream run in this year’s competition.The big moment came in a high-pressure game. Farhan amassed 100 off 60 balls, having racked up nine 4s and five 6s. And thanks to this innings, he now holds 383 runs, 64 more runs than Kohli’s tally, in a single edition of a T20 World Cup.Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bowl first. While Sri Lanka were already out of the semifinal race, Pakistan still had a slim chance. To qualify, they needed not just a win but a massive 64-run victory to overtake New Zealand on net run rate.Pakistan made three changes to their playing XI, with Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza missing out. Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafay and Abrar Ahmed were drafted in. Sri Lanka also made two changes, bringing in Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage.Batting first, Pakistan got off to a blazing start. Farhan and Fakhar Zaman put together an unbeaten 150-run partnership in just 14 overs.Pakistan raced to 150 without losing a wicket, scoring at more than 10 runs per over. The powerplay itself yielded 64 runs, setting the tone for a strong total.With Farhan in record-breaking form and Pakistan off to a flying start, the team kept its semifinal hopes alive in style.

PAK vs SL Playing XIs

Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.

Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka (AP Photo)

A heart-broken Dasun Shanaka issued a heartfelt apology to fans after Sri Lanka crashed out of the T20 World Cup, admitting failures, fitness concerns and missed opportunities contributed to another painful exit.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Co-hosts Sri Lanka were eliminated in the Super Eight stage following a crushing 61-run defeat to New Zealand, days after suffering a 51-run loss to England. The twin defeats left their final match against Pakistan inconsequential, extending a barren run in global tournaments since their 2014 triumph.

“We feel very sorry about this,” Shanaka said in an emotional post-match press conference. “For the spectators, I don’t have anything to tell. We have not given them any win that they can be happy about.”The captain admitted Sri Lanka had squandered crucial moments, especially against England. “England match was also a match that we could have won. If we were more sensible, we could have won that. This match was a one-sided game,” he said.

Shanaka also pointed to unexpected playing conditions, saying the pitches did not behave as anticipated despite the squad being built around proven domestic performers. “Before the start of the tournament, I mentioned I expected good wickets. The best batsmen in Sri Lanka are here. No one goes out there to fail; everyone goes to win for the country,” he said. “Unfortunately, sometimes we lose games from small changes we don’t even think of. So honestly, we are very sorry.”Fitness and injuries emerged as a major concern, with Shanaka admitting Sri Lanka were lagging behind global standards. “I don’t think the physical fitness is up to the maximum level. We had about four to five injuries, and our best players are out. When considering fitness levels, other teams are way ahead of us,” he said.He stressed that fitness must become “non-negotiable”, highlighting the absence of key players like Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana as a huge setback, while insisting he was not using injuries as an excuse.Shanaka also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s lack of power-hitters and called for long-term planning, while remaining uncertain about his own captaincy future. “As a captain, I have no idea how long I will be the captain. It’s decided by selectors. I have made good decisions and mistakes as well, but I’m happy I had this opportunity.”Despite the disappointment, Shanaka urged his side to finish strongly against Pakistan. “No matter the problems, we have to go positively. It’s very important to finish the World Cup well because it gives momentum for the next tournament,” he said.