Rajasthan Royals Hit by Major Injury Blow as Sam Curran Ruled Out of IPL 2026
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season just nine days away, the Rajasthan Royals camp has been rocked by a significant injury concern. Star pacer Sam Curran has been officially ruled out of the entire upcoming season due to a suspected groin injury. The confirmation of this unfortunate development came on March 19, leaving the Royals with a crucial gap to fill in their bowling attack. The franchise is reportedly working swiftly to identify and announce a suitable replacement.
Curran, a highly sought-after English all-rounder, was slated to represent his third IPL franchise. He was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals through a trade deal, which also saw all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja join the team from the Chennai Super Kings. In exchange for these two prominent players, the Royals had traded their former captain, Sanju Samson.
Prior to his IPL commitments, Curran was actively involved with the England men’s cricket team, participating in the ICC T20 World Cup held in India in 2026. His last competitive outing was in the semi-final clash against India at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5, a match that ultimately saw England’s exit from the tournament.
Sam Curran’s IPL Journey and Impact
Sam Curran’s IPL career began with the Punjab Kings in 2019. He then moved to the Chennai Super Kings for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A notable return to Punjab Kings occurred in 2023, where he was the most expensive player in the auction, commanding a price of ₹18.5 crore. He continued with the franchise in 2024. However, his valuation saw a significant drop ahead of IPL 2025 when the Chennai Super Kings reacquired him for ₹2.4 crore. In the 2025 season, Curran played five matches, contributing 114 runs and taking one wicket.
Despite the fluctuating auction prices, Curran remains a formidable all-rounder. He holds the distinction of being the youngest player to achieve a hat-trick in IPL history. Across his 64 IPL appearances, he has amassed 997 runs and claimed 59 wickets, demonstrating his valuable dual threat. His personal best score of 88 runs was recorded in 2025 against his former team, the Punjab Kings.
Rajasthan Royals’ Internal Options and Squad Overview
In the wake of Curran’s unavailability, the Rajasthan Royals are expected to explore their internal resources to bolster their all-round capabilities. Prominent players like Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira are likely candidates to step up and fill the void left by the injured Englishman.
The Rajasthan Royals squad for the IPL 2026 season, prior to this setback, includes:
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubham Dubey
- Lhuan-Dre Pretorius
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Aman Rao
- Dhruv Jurel
- Donovan Ferreira
- Ravi Singh
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Riyan Parag (Captain)
- Yudhvir Singh Charak
- Jofra Archer
- Tushar Deshpande
- Kwena Maphaka
- Nandre Burger
- Sushant Mishra
- Kuldeep Sen
- Adam Milne
- Brijesh Sharma
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Vignesh Puthur
- Yash Raj Punja
The absence of Sam Curran undoubtedly presents a challenge for the Rajasthan Royals as they prepare for the upcoming IPL season. Their ability to adapt and strategically replace his contributions will be a key factor in their campaign.
