Dasun Shanaka has joined the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Sam Curran for IPL 2026. Earlier, Curran was ruled out of the season following a groin injury. The Sri Lankan all-rounder thus became the second player to turn down a Pakistan Super League (PSL) contract to join the IPL this season. Rajasthan Royals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on 30 March in Guwahati. Dasun Shanaka replaces Sam Curran at RR The Indian Premier League (IPL), in an official announcement, confirmed the development. As per the press release, Shanaka has joined the inaugural IPL champions for Rs 2 crore. This would be a second IPL stint for the Sri Lankan T20I captain who had featured in three matches for Gujarat Titans in 2023. The Royals had earlier traded in Curran and Ravindra Jadeja from Chennai Super Kings with Sanju Samson going the other way in a blockbuster move before the IPL auction last year. Shanaka had a decent T20 World Cup campaign where he scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 187.50 and this is a key addition for the Riyan Parag-led outfit. Also read: ‘Very difficult, but I will try’: MS Dhoni opens up on retirement plans in CSK’s ‘Roar 26′ event at Chepauk Dasun Shanaka second player to turn down PSL for IPL Shanaka thus became the second player to ditch the PSL and join the IPL this season. The 34-year-old was earlier signed by defending PSL champions Lahore Qalandars at the first-ever auction this year for PKR 75 lakh (Rs 25.1 lakh). Lahore Qalandars’ promoter Sameen Rana earlier, according to Cricbuzz, had said that Shanaka did not reach out to the franchise asking for a release. Qalandars signed Daniel Sams as his replacement. Earlier, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani had become the first player this season to opt out of the PSL and play the IPL. The tall right-arm pacer who had a standout T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, replaced Mustafizur Rahman at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Post navigation Virat Kohli’s 29-run cameo in Bengaluru for RCB:Venkatesh Iyer led side score 237/7 in first practice match; Patidar-Jitesh slam half-centuries Sahibzada Farhan named Men’s Player of the Month for February:Arundhati Reddy bags women’s award for stellar show Down Under
