IPL 2026: RR Coach Kumar Sangakkara's Disappointment Over Sam Curran's Absence Ignites Fan Outrage

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara expressed his disappointment over Sam Curran's absence from IPL 2026, questioning his 'season-ending' injury after seeing him play for Surrey. This has sparked intense backlash from fans, who are questioning the commitment of overseas players and calling for stricter rules.

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Kumar Sangakkara expressed his disappointment over English all-rounder Sam Curran’s absence from the IPL 2026 following the team’s Qualifier 2 defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday, May 29.

Sam Curran had joined the Rajasthan Royals in November 2025 as part of a high-profile trade deal that saw Sanju Samson move to the Chennai Super Kings. However, the England all-rounder withdrew from the IPL 2026 season before it began, citing a ‘season-ending’ groin injury, and the RR signed Dasun Shanaka as his replacement for the remainder of the campaign.

Though Curran’s absence didn’t have much of an impact on the RR’s overall performance, as the team managed to reach the Qualifier 2 stage, his availability remained a point of contention for the management.

Sangakkara Questions Curran’s Commitment

Following the RR’s Qualifier 2 defeat to GT, head coach Kumar Sangakkara was asked about. Curran’s status during the post-match press conference. When questioned about the all-rounder’s commitment, Sangakkara did not hold back, highlighting the discrepancy between the reported injury and Curran's recent activities.

“We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury," Sangakkara said. "But I think I saw him playing for Surrey for two or three games now,” a former Sri Lanka captain told reporters.

“So that was disappointing. We would have loved to have had him here playing for us. But I think (it was good) having Dasun Shanaka as a replacement when we were told early," he added.

Kumar Sangakkara said, “we were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, but I saw him play 2-3 games for Surrey. That was disappointing because we would have loved to have had him here with us”. pic.twitter.com/ghC12FQ4bY

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 30, 2026

Sam Curran recently returned to action in the T20 Blast for Surrey and registered the scores of 32, 71*, and 38 against Lancashire, Middlesex, and Hamspire, respectively, further fueling the frustration within the Rajasthan Royals camp.

Curran’s absence from the entire IPL season due to a groin injury and his subsequent participation in the T20 Blast for Surrey have triggered a wave of intense backlash from cricket fans on social media.

‘Two-Month Holiday’: Fans Question Overseas Player Commitment

Kumar Sangakkara’s disappointment over Sam Curran's absence from RR’s IPL 2026 despite his recent return to domestic cricket has sparked a wave of intense backlash from cricket fans on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

Taking to their X handles, fans and cricket enthusiasts slammed Sam Curran for missing the IPL despite returning to action for Surrey, with many questioning his commitment to RR and calling on the BCCI to introduce stricter rules for overseas players who withdraw from the tournament.

The England players, Harry Brook and Ben Duckett, were also mentioned by disgruntled supporters, who drew parallels between their past withdrawals and Curran's recent actions, claiming a recurring trend of English cricketers failing to prioritize their IPL commitments.

First Harry Brook, then Ben Duckett & now Sam Curran.
These Britishers have a history of fooling Indians. https://t.co/SfOIFhzc5c

— 𝚅𝚊𝚛𝚞𝚗¹⁸ (@varunx18) May 30, 2026

ECB and England's Majority Red Ball players do this very often,
High time BCCI takes an action on this!!! https://t.co/rUytp5xlI8

— Vishhh 🇫🇷 (@vitaminkohli) May 30, 2026

Most of english players are doing like this if they are not going going for big amount https://t.co/ERXjlks7vM

— mugu/ #sackfleming (@Mugunth32984184) May 30, 2026

ban such liars for 2-3 years and see the magic. We have enough Indian players who can do well. There is no scarcity at all. https://t.co/trKmnOBRK8

— iexist (@solinoideits) May 30, 2026

Players like this have no place in the game. BCCI should ban them. https://t.co/dzUcdoYdxP

— Sha. ( Sack Fleming ) (@cinee_verse) May 30, 2026

It's time to ban English players from the IPL. They keep doing this, never valuing their contracts or commitments. And most of them are mediocre at best anyway. 
They should stick to playing in their own backyard. https://t.co/GXYcr18ofu

— Lipstick Bradman (@MulanaSaab) May 30, 2026

Make him permanent ban from ipl.make some strict rule for the overseas players because many of them treats like a 2 month holiday.

— Rajat Patidar fc (@patidarverse) May 30, 2026

Sangakkara has every right to be disappointed. If Curran was fit, Rajasthan could have used him.
This situation raises a lot of questions. Honest words from Sangakkara. pic.twitter.com/UsU7bVNmlZ

— Asma Sultanaz (@Asmaasultanaa) May 30, 2026

BCCI should take action against these players.. ban them from auction permanently. IPL is huge now and don't need foreign players for league promotion.

— Sunil (@sunilplwl) May 30, 2026

Harry Brook was banned from participating in the IPL for two years after withdrawing from the 2024 season following the acquisition of his services by the Delhi Capitals, while Ben Duckett was previously criticized for pulling out of the IPL 2026 to focus on his red-ball cricket preparations.

In his IPL career, Sam Curran played for the Punjab Kings and the Chennai Super Kings, establishing himself as a prominent overseas all-rounder before his high-profile trade to the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 season.