Dasun Shanaka (Image: IANS) Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka is set to join Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the upcoming IPL 2026 season as a replacement for injured England all-rounder Sam Curran.RR were forced into a late squad change after Sam Curran was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury. The franchise moved quickly to secure Shanaka, with sources suggesting the deal is almost complete, pending minor paperwork related to his commitments in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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Another PSL to IPL switch
Shanak’s move marks another instance of players switching from the PSL to the IPL. Recently, Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani quit his PSL stint and joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. This growing trend highlights the continued dominance of the IPL as the most lucrative and competitive T20 league in world cricket. RR, the inaugural IPL champions, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. “Talks are on for Shanaka to join RR in the upcoming IPL season. Apart from a few formalities that are yet to be completed, it seems like it’s pretty much a done deal and it’s heading in that direction. Sunday.”
Shanak’s recent form
Under Shanaka’s leadership, co-hosts Sri Lanka collapsed at the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, Shanaka scored 165 runs including a 31-ball 76 not out against Pakistan, while taking three wickets in the T20 World Cup. After going unsold in the IPL mini-auction last December, Shanaka was picked up by PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Shanaka earlier played in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans as a replacement for injured New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson, scoring 26 runs in three games. In 2025, he was re-signed by Gujarat Titans as a mid-season replacement for the injured New Zealand batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips, but did not get a match. While Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is the head coach of the Royals, former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour is the team’s assistant coach. Rathour was Sri Lanka’s consulting batting coach during the T20 World Cup.
