NEW DELHI: Sam Curran has spoken out on the groin injury that has ruled him out of IPL 2026, admitting that the problem had been building for some time before finally forcing the “difficult decision” to withdraw.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The England all-rounder, who was due to represent Rajasthan Royals after his transfer, pulled out just before the T20 World Cup tournament where England reached the semi-finals.
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IPL 2026 should be an audition for India’s next T20I captain Curran revealed that he carried the injury through the global tournament. “It’s an injury that I’ve kind of struggled with. It’s gotten a little bit worse over time,” he told the BBC.READ ALSO: ‘Two-year ban not working’: Sunil Gavaskar calls for stricter IPL withdrawal rulesPost-tournament scans confirmed the extent of the damage. “I went for a couple of scans and it showed reasonable damage so I had to make a tough decision. It was holding me back quite a bit,” he added.The 27-year-old said missing the IPL was particularly frustrating given his excitement about joining the new franchise. “It was a big disappointment to miss the IPL… but now I have a rehab block where I am trying to get strong and fit,” he noted.The focus shifts to recoveryCurran is now undergoing rehabilitation in England and admitted the timeline for his return remains uncertain. “Everything will come down to symptoms. It’s still a long way from that, of course,” he said, questioning his participation in the upcoming homework.He is also unlikely to make an immediate appearance for Surrey and remains uncertain about leading the side in the T20 Blast. “It’s probably the first time I’ve rehabilitated a bit in England,” he said.Despite the setback, Curran remained pragmatic. “It will be difficult to watch the IPL because I know I would like to be there, but injuries are part of the sport,” he added.Rajasthan have since named Dasun Shanak as his replacement for the season.Curran’s withdrawal adds to a growing list of high-profile absentees this year, underscoring the physical toll of a busy cricket calendar.
