Kamal Ghorui
Rajasthan Royals could face a setback ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, with all-rounder Sam Curran likely to miss the tournament due to a suspected groin injury.According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Curran, who joined Rajasthan Royals (RR) from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a trade that also involved Ravindra Jadeja moving the other way and Sanju Samson heading to CSK, is in doubt for the entire season.Curran had a difficult IPL 2025 season, scoring 114 runs and taking just one wicket as CSK finished at the bottom of the table. He was also part of England’s campaign in the recent T20 World Cup, where the team reached the semi-final before losing to eventual champions India.The 27-year-old has been part of the IPL since 2019, having represented Punjab Kings and CSK. He was part of the CSK side that won the title in 2021. Across six IPL seasons, Curran has scored 997 runs and taken 59 wickets. He also featured in the 2026 T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka, where England again reached the semi-finals.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have begun their preparations for the IPL 2026 season with a training camp in Jaipur. Players, including Ravindra Jadeja, were seen practising as the team worked on combinations ahead of the tournament.With the first phase of the schedule announced, the Riyan Parag-led side will open its campaign against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30.Rajasthan Royals will then face Gujarat Titans on April 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, followed by a match against Mumbai Indians on April 7. Their fourth game will be against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.
