Rajasthan Royals Expose Sam Curran’s Blatant Lie; BCCI To Take Action? – Rajasthan Royals Call Out Sam Curran Over IPL 2026 Absence Controversy
The Controversy Unfolds in the Aftermath of Qualifier 2
The atmosphere at the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp shifted from competitive fire to frustration following their exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. After a valiant effort in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans, the Royals saw their championship dreams dashed. While the loss on the field was difficult, the post-match discourse quickly turned toward a glaring off-field issue: the absence of English star Sam Curran.
A Hard-Fought Battle Against the Gujarat Titans
The match itself was a spectacle of modern T20 cricket. Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable total of 214/6, anchored by a sensational 96 off 47 balls from the young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, the Gujarat Titans proved superior in the chase. Shubman Gill notched his first century of the season, and combined with a prolific display from Sai Sudharsan, the pair dismantled the RR bowling attack. The partnership of 167 runs ensured that Gujarat reached the target in just 18.4 overs with seven wickets remaining, effectively ending Rajasthan’s campaign.
Kumar Sangakkara Hits Out at Double Standards
In the aftermath, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara did not hold back when addressing the media regarding Sam Curran. Curran, who had been traded to the franchise in a high-profile move involving Sanju Samson, had opted out of the entire IPL 2026 season just before its commencement, citing a persistent groin injury. This left the franchise in a difficult position, forcing them to secure Dasun Shanaka as a replacement.
The contention arose when Curran was spotted representing Surrey in the T20 Blast during the latter stages of the IPL. Sangakkara expressed his deep disappointment, stating, “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 would have loved to have had him here playing for us.”
