Dasun Shanaka Joins Rajasthan Royals as Sam Curran's Replacement for IPL 2026

Shanaka Takes Over for Injured Curran

Dasun Shanaka, an all-rounder from Sri Lanka, is set to step in for the injured Sam Curran at Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the upcoming IPL 2026 season, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. Shanaka has already notified the Lahore Qalandars, his current team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), about this transition. The necessary arrangements for his transfer are currently being finalized.

Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 Match Schedule

The Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL journey against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have won the championship five times, on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Following this match, RR will compete against the Gujarat Titans on April 4, face the Mumbai Indians on April 7, and then take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.

Shanaka's T20 Background

Previously, Shanaka participated in the 2023 IPL season with the Gujarat Titans, where he played three matches and accumulated 26 runs across three innings. In his international career, he has played 131 T20Is for Sri Lanka, scoring a total of 1,912 runs and claiming 46 wickets. Shanaka also led the Sri Lankan team during the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup held in India.

Recent Performance Highlights

Shanaka has shown promising form recently, including a rapid fifty off just 20 balls against Oman, followed by an impressive unbeaten 76 runs from 31 balls against Pakistan.

Trend of PSL Players Joining IPL

Interestingly, Shanaka is the second player in recent times to transition from a PSL team to an IPL franchise. This follows Blessing Muzarabani's decision to withdraw from his contract with Islamabad United after being approached by the Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who was released following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.