Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara criticised all-rounder Sam Curran for missing IPL 2026 citing injury, despite later playing domestic cricket. He raised concerns over player availability and contract enforcement after RR’s Qualifier 2 exit to Gujarat Titans. The issue has sparked calls for stricter rules under BCCI regarding withdrawals and commitments.

Mullanpur: Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has publicly expressed his frustration over England all-rounder Sam Curran’s absence from the IPL 2026 season, raising concerns about player availability and contractual commitments after the franchise’s campaign came to an end in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans.

The Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a season that Sangakkara said was repeatedly disrupted by personnel setbacks. Among those issues, the former Sri Lanka captain singled out Curran’s withdrawal from the tournament despite the England all-rounder subsequently appearing in domestic cricket back home.

Speaking after the playoff loss, Sangakkara questioned the circumstances surrounding Curran’s absence.

“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’d have loved to have had him here playing for us, but we got Dasun Shanaka as a replacement after we were informed early,” Sangakkara told reporters.