Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
The Rajasthan Royals have confirmed that Sri Lanka T20I captain Dasun Shanaka will step in for Sam Curran, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2026 season due to injury.
Kumar Sangakkara, Director of Cricket and Head Coach of the Royals, expressed regret over Curran’s absence, saying, “Losing a player of Sam’s calibre just before the season is disappointing. His all-round abilities were invaluable. That said, we are confident that Dasun Shanaka is an excellent replacement. He is a strong finisher with the bat and adds balance to our lineup.”
Shanaka, known for his calm temperament and versatility, will strengthen the Royals’ lower-middle order. Since his international debut in 2015, the Sri Lankan all-rounder has featured in 131 T20I matches, scoring 1,912 runs at an average of 20.55 and maintaining a strike rate of 128.40. His highest T20I score came recently at the T20 World Cup, an unbeaten 76 against Pakistan.
A right-arm medium pacer, Shanaka has also contributed with the ball, taking 46 wickets at an average of 25.10, with a best performance of 3/16 in the shortest format.
The 34-year-old brings IPL experience as well, having played for the Gujarat Titans in 2023.
The Royals will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati, on March 30, with Shanaka expected to make an immediate impact on the team.
