Dasun Shanaka Joins IPL as Injury Replacement for Sam Curran

Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan T20I captain, has joined Rajasthan Royals as an injury replacement for Sam Curran for the IPL 2026 season. This move comes as the tournament prepares to kick off on March 28. Shanaka's salary is expected to see a significant increase, potentially reaching up to ₹2.4 crores. Meanwhile, Curran is out for the season due to a groin injury. The situation raises concerns in the PSL, where more players may follow suit and leave for IPL franchises amid ongoing injury issues.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 22, 2026, 15:33 IST

Shanaka's Move to Rajasthan Royals

Dasun Shanaka, the captain of the Sri Lankan T20I team, has opted out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to step in as an injury replacement for Sam Curran at the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the upcoming 2026 IPL season. The tournament is set to commence on March 28, featuring a match between the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Shanaka went unsold during the IPL Auction held in December last year in Abu Dhabi, prompting him to enter the PSL Auction. He was subsequently acquired by the Lahore Qalanders, the defending champions, for PKR 75 Lakhs (approximately ₹25.15 Lakhs).

According to an RR official, "Yes, we're close to signing him. A few formalities are pending. He has to complete some paperwork with Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC)."

Potential Salary Increase for Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka Set For Massive Pay Hike

While the exact salary details will be confirmed once the IPL governing council issues a formal announcement, Shanaka's earnings are expected to rise significantly. If he receives his auction base price of ₹75 Lakhs (PKR 2.23 crores), it would represent a 200% increase in his salary. However, he could potentially earn up to ₹2.4 crores (PKR 7.15 crores), which was Sam Curran's salary with the Royals. Shanaka has previously played only three IPL matches, all in 2023 for Gujarat Titans (GT), where he filled in for Kane Williamson due to injury. He also joined the Ahmedabad franchise in 2025 as a replacement for Glenn Phillips but did not make it to the playing XI.

Sam Curran's Injury Update

What Happened To Sam Curran?

Sam Curran is reportedly sidelined for the entire 2026 season due to a suspected groin injury. The English all-rounder was looking forward to his debut season with the Royals after being traded from Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He was one of two players, along with Ravindra Jadeja, who joined RR while former captain Sanju Samson moved in the opposite direction.

Rising Tensions in PSL

PSL's Tensions Rise

Shanaka is the second player to withdraw from the PSL to join an IPL team as an injury replacement, following Blessing Muzarabani. Muzarabani had initially signed with Islamabad United but opted to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. With a growing list of injuries across teams, more players may leave the PSL for IPL franchises. Last year, the PSL imposed a one-year ban on Corbin Bosche for switching to Mumbai Indians after being signed by Peshawar Zalmi. It remains unclear whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will pursue legal action against Muzarabani and Shanaka.