Sam Curran Details Groin Injury That Forced IPL 2026 Withdrawal

England all-rounder Sam Curran has provided insight into the groin injury that ruled him out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The 27-year-old admitted the physical issue had worsened over time, eventually forcing him to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the tournament.

Curran was scheduled to play for the Rajasthan Royals following a trade agreement. He ultimately pulled out of the franchise league shortly after the T20 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals. He confirmed he played through the global ICC tournament while managing the injury.

Key Details: Curran’s IPL 2026 Absence

• Injury type: Groin strain sustained and aggravated during the T20 World Cup.
• Franchise impact: Withdrew from Rajasthan Royals after a recent trade acquisition.
• Replacement player: Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka signed with Rajasthan for the season.
• Recovery status: Currently undergoing an indefinite rehabilitation program in England.

Playing Through Pain at the T20 World Cup

“It is an injury that I have kind of been battling with a little bit. It has gradually got fractionally worse,” Curran told the BBC. Post-tournament medical scans revealed the severity of the strain.

“I went for a couple of scans, and it showed reasonable damage, so I had to make the tough decision. It was hindering me quite a bit,” Curran added.

Missing the IPL season represents a significant setback for the all-rounder, who expressed disappointment over losing the opportunity to join a new franchise. His focus has now shifted to a dedicated rehabilitation block to regain full match fitness.

Rehabilitation and Uncertain Return Timeline

Curran is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) medical staff. He acknowledged that his return date remains undetermined, largely depending on how his body responds to the recovery program.

“It is all going to come down to symptoms. It is obviously still a way off from that,” Curran noted. The timeline casts doubt on his availability for upcoming domestic cricket assignments, including immediate fixtures for Surrey and his potential captaincy role in the T20 Blast.

“It is probably my first time to do a bit of rehab back in England. It will be tough to watch the IPL because I know that I would like to have been there, but injuries are part of sport,” he said.

Rajasthan Royals Name Replacement

Following Curran’s withdrawal, the Rajasthan Royals management signed Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as his replacement for the IPL 2026 season. Shanaka brings extensive international experience to the squad.

Sam Curran Career T20 Statistics

Before his injury break, Curran established himself as a highly effective pace-bowling all-rounder in the shortest format. Below is a snapshot of his T20 performance metrics:

Statistics verified via ESPNcricinfo.

Curran’s exit highlights the physical demands placed on fast-bowling all-rounders navigating a congested international and franchise cricket calendar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL franchises continue to manage an increasing number of high-profile player withdrawals due to workload-related injuries.