The debate over overseas player availability in the IPL has resurfaced after Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara questioned Sam Curran’s withdrawal from the IPL 2026 and urged the BCCI to continue enforcing strict rules for foreign players.
Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, pulled out of the tournament after reporting a groin injury that was described as season-ending. However, he later returned to competitive cricket and played three T20 Blast matches for Surrey, raising concerns about his absence from the IPL.
Player availability has been a recurring issue for the IPL franchises. This season, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins joined their respective teams only during the latter stages of the tournament because of fitness concerns. Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman also recently highlighted the problem and called for stronger coordination between the BCCI and overseas cricket boards to reduce disruptions caused by player absences and help teams maintain balance.
The BCCI already has a regulation that imposes a two-year ban on overseas players who withdraw from the IPL after being purchased in the auction. The rule is aimed at ensuring that players honour their commitments to franchises.
Speaking after Rajasthan Royals’ defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, Sangakkara said the franchise had been informed that Sam Curran would miss the remainder of the season because of injury. Seeing him return to action soon afterward was disappointing for the team, which would have preferred to have him available. He added that Rajasthan Royals responded by bringing in Dasun Shanaka as a replacement and praised everyone involved for adapting quickly to the situation.
When asked whether the BCCI should take an even stricter stance on player availability, Sangakkara supported the current system. He said that strong policies are necessary, although genuine and serious injuries should always be understood and respected.
The RR coach also pointed out that several players had remained committed to the franchise despite limited opportunities on the field. He mentioned Adam Milne, Shimron Hetmyer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka as examples of players who stayed with the squad, trained hard, supported teammates and contributed to the team environment even when they were not regularly playing.
Kumar Sangakkara noted that the decision to join or remain with a team ultimately rests with the individual player. However, he stressed that the BCCI’s strict policy should continue because it helps ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled properly and fairly. According to him, maintaining such standards would benefit every IPL franchise in the long run.
