Kumar Sangakkara, head coach of the Rajasthan Royals, has publicly questioned the circumstances surrounding England all-rounder Sam Curran's withdrawal from IPL 2026, revealing that Curran subsequently appeared in domestic T20 cricket for Surrey despite being declared unavailable with a season-ending injury. Sangakkara's remarks came after the Royals' campaign ended in a seven-wicket defeat to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on 30 May 2026 at Mullanpur.

Sangakkara's Frustration

'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 after the playoff loss.

The candid admission from one of cricket's most respected coaching minds lends weight to a growing debate about how IPL franchises are protected — or left exposed — when overseas players withdraw citing medical grounds.

How Curran Ended Up at Rajasthan

Curran arrived at the Royals via a high-profile trade with the Chennai Super Kings before the season, with the franchise securing both Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in exchange for Sanju Samson. The Royals invested ₹2.4 crore in the English all-rounder. Before the tournament began, however, Curran informed the franchise he would be unavailable due to what was described as a season-ending injury. Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka was subsequently brought in as his replacement.

Curran, 27, has since featured in three matches for Surrey in the ongoing T20 Blast. While he has not bowled since England's T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in March, he has contributed with the bat, scoring 141 runs in the competition — figures that have drawn scrutiny given his stated unavailability for the IPL.

The Broader Policy Question

Sangakkara was measured but pointed when addressing the need for tighter contractual enforcement. 'A proper, tight policy around that is always a requirement. The BCCI has a strict policy on that. Every player goes through injuries, and if it's a serious injury, a season-ending injury, of course we understand,' he said.

He contrasted Curran's situation with the commitment shown by other overseas players in the Rajasthan squad — several of whom remained with the franchise despite limited playing time. 'We've had quite a few injuries. We've also had players like Adam Milne and Hetmyer, who've come here and not had much of a game. Lhuan-dre Pretorius is another one. Kwenna Maphaka is another one. They've been here. They've done the hard yards. They've practised. They've carried water for the team,' Sangakkara said.

What Sangakkara Wants From the BCCI

The Royals coach called for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s existing regulations to be applied consistently and rigorously. 'I think the BCCI policy around it is very strict now, and that's the way it should continue to be, to make sure that contractual obligations are met properly and genuinely. I think every side in the IPL will benefit from that,' he added.

The episode raises questions that extend well beyond Rajasthan — with franchises across the league investing significant sums in overseas talent, the integrity of the injury-withdrawal process is now firmly in focus ahead of future IPL seasons.