Dasun Shanaka Leaves Pakistan Super League For IPL 2026 Deal Sri Lankan Frontrunner To Join Rajasthan Royals: Report

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The report further added that all-rounder Shanaka in in talks to join Rajasthan Royals, as a replacement for England’s Sam Curran. The English all-rounder joined the 2008 champions as a part of a trade deal that saw Sanju Samson join Chennai Super Kings. Curran is believed to be recovering from a groin injury. Shanaka went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction.

“The Rajasthan Royals are among the teams facing concerns, with England all-rounder Sam Curran reportedly unavailable due to injury. Shanaka, a fast-bowling all-rounder with similar skill sets, is seen as a potential like-for-like replacement,” the report further added.

Shanaka has been a part of IPL for two seasons, both with Gujarat Titans as a replacement player. He was first picked up by 2022 champions as a replacement for Kane Williamson, who injured his shoulder in the first match of the 2023 season. Shanaka played three games in that edition, scoring 26 runs. He didn’t bowl in 2023 season.

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Two years later, Shanaka was once again picked as a replacement player for another New Zealander Glenn Phillips, midway into IPL 2025. Phillips had sustained a groin injury while fielding as a substitute against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He didn’t get a game in IPL 2025.

If Shanaka joins Rajasthan Royals, the Sri Lankan will be coming on the back of a decent performances in the T20 World Cup 2026. Leading the side, Sri Lanka, under Shanaka, exited in the Super 8 stage. The Sri Lankan skipper scored two half-centuries in the tournament, including a fighting 76 against Pakistan in their final encounter in a losing cause.

Meanwhile, led by new skipper Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30.

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