ICC T20 World Cup | Can England extend much-hyped Bazball to their best-suited format?
England will start their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8. The Harry Brook-led side looks promising on paper and is expected to cruise to the Super Eights from Group C, which also has Scotland, Italy, and the West Indies, but can they win the much-yearned silverware?
SL vs ENG | Twitter chuffed as Curran announces himself before World Cup with hattrick to break Lanka
IPL Auction | Rajasthan Royals retention analysis, potential targets for 2026 season
Samson for Jadeja-Curran: CSK's potential revival, RR's all-rounder fix, and winner of the mega IPL trade
Samson-Jadeja Trade Deal Suffers a Major Blow Due to This Reason
International career
Samuel Matthew Curran (born 3 June 1998) is an English cricketer who has represented England in Test, One Day International, and Twenty20 International cricket. He plays as a left-arm seam-bowling all-rounder and bats left-handed in the lower or middle order. Curran developed through England’s youth system before entering the senior team in 2018 and later became an important player in England’s white-ball squads.
- 2011–2012: Represented Zimbabwe Cricket U13s during the CSA U13 Week in South Africa and won the Player of the Tournament award.
- 2016: Played for England Under-19s in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Appeared in all 6 matches, scoring 201 runs and taking 7 wickets, which helped England finish sixth in the tournament.
- 2017: Selected for England Lions during their tour of the United Arab Emirates and later appeared in a match against South Africa A at Canterbury.
- 2018: Received his first senior call-up for England during the Trans-Tasman Tri-Series against Australia and New Zealand, although he did not play. His Test debut came on June 1, 2018, against Pakistan at Leeds, where he scored 20 runs and took 2 wickets for 43 runs in the match. Later that month, he made his ODI debut against Australia at Manchester on June 24, 2018. During the Test series against India, he produced a major performance at Edgbaston, taking 4/74 in the first innings and scoring 63 runs, earning Player of the Match. Another strong innings of 78 runs came later in the series at Southampton. Across the series, he scored 272 runs and took 11 wickets, which earned him the England Player of the Series award. His performances during the season also earned the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year award.
- 2019: Played Test matches during England’s tour of the West Indies and later appeared in the home summer Tests against Ireland and Australia. In September, he joined England’s squads for the series against New Zealand and made his T20I debut on November 1, 2019, at Christchurch.
- 2019–2020: Played during England’s winter tours of New Zealand and South Africa. In the New Zealand Tests, he took 6 wickets and scored 40 runs across the series. During the South Africa tour, he scored 130 runs and took 10 wickets, including bowling figures of 4/58 in the first Test.
- 2020: Selected in England’s training group ahead of international cricket returning after the COVID-19 interruption. During the home summer, he played Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, taking 4 wickets across the matches.
- 2021: Played in England’s winter tour of India, appearing in 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs. In the final ODI on March 28, 2021, he scored 95 not out and received the Player of the Match award despite England losing by 7 runs. On July 1, 2021, against Sri Lanka, he took his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket. During the Test series against India, he recorded a king pair at Lord’s on August 16, 2021. His last Test appearance came against India at Leeds from August 25 to August 28, 2021. Later in the year, he was selected for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, although a back injury in October ruled him out and he was replaced by his brother Tom Curran.
- 2022: Returned to competitive cricket after about 7 months away from the international game due to injury. His comeback came for Surrey in the County Championship on April 21, 2022, against Somerset.
- 2024: Selected in England’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, continuing his role as an all-round option in the shorter formats.
- 2025: Returned to England’s international squad in several T20 series against South Africa and Ireland. By this period, he had played more than 100 international matches across formats for England.
- 2026: Featured in England’s T20 plans ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. During a preparatory T20I series against Sri Lanka, he took a hat-trick, becoming only the second England bowler to achieve that feat in men’s T20I cricket. In the same series, he also scored a half-century and received both Player of the Match in one game and Player of the Series for his performances. His latest ODI appearance came against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) on January 27, 2026, while his most recent T20I match came against India at Wankhede on March 5, 2026.
Leagues Participation
Sam Curran built a large part of his professional path through franchise cricket in several major T20 competitions. His left-arm pace bowling, aggressive lower-order batting, and fielding ability attracted teams in leagues across different countries. Over multiple seasons, he played for franchises in India, Australia, and England, where his role often included both bowling responsibilities and important late-order batting.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The Indian Premier League became the first major franchise competition in Curran’s career. Teams valued his ability to bowl during powerplay or death overs while also adding quick runs in the lower order. His IPL journey includes several team changes influenced by auction strategies and squad planning.
|
Year
|
Team
|
Notes
|
|
2019
|
Punjab Kings
|
First IPL season after purchase for about ₹7.2 crore. Recorded a hat-trick during the tournament and gained attention as a young all-rounder.
|
|
2020
|
Chennai Super Kings
|
Bought for about ₹5.5 crore. Played 14 matches, scored 186 runs, and took 13 wickets.
|
|
2021
|
Chennai Super Kings
|
Continued with CSK and appeared in 9 matches before injury problems later in the year.
|
|
2022
|
—
|
Did not participate because of a back injury that interrupted both domestic and international schedules.
|
|
2023
|
Punjab Kings
|
Returned to PBKS after a record auction purchase of about ₹18.5 crore. Played 14 matches and scored 276 runs with steady bowling performances.
|
|
2024
|
Punjab Kings
|
Retained by the franchise. Appeared in 13 matches and scored 270 runs while also bowling regularly.
|
|
2025
|
Chennai Super Kings
|
Bought again by CSK for about ₹2.40 crore. Played 5 matches and scored 114 runs with a highest score of 88.
|
|
2026
|
Rajasthan Royals
|
Joined the franchise through a high-profile trade deal before the season.
|
Across his IPL career, he has played more than 60 matches, scored close to 1000 runs, and collected several key wickets during different seasons.
Big Bash League (BBL)
Curran entered the Big Bash League later than many overseas players. His first appearance came during the 2025–26 season when the Sydney Sixers signed him as an international recruit.
|
Year
|
Team
|
Notes
|
|
2025–26
|
Sydney Sixers
|
First BBL season. Played 4 matches, scored 71 runs with a highest score of 53 not out, and took 5 wickets. His 53 against the Brisbane Heat helped secure victory and earned a Player of the Match award.
|
Although the number of matches was limited, his performances demonstrated strong finishing ability with the bat and useful bowling spells in the middle overs.
The Hundred
Curran also became a regular player in England’s franchise tournament, The Hundred. He joined Oval Invincibles from the first season and developed an important role as a versatile all-rounder within the squad.
|
Year
|
Team
|
Notes
|
|
2021
|
Oval Invincibles
|
First season of the tournament. The team reached the final but lost to Southern Brave.
|
|
2022
|
Oval Invincibles
|
Won the tournament after defeating Manchester Originals in the final.
|
|
2023
|
Oval Invincibles
|
Secured another championship after another final victory against Manchester Originals.
|
|
2024
|
Oval Invincibles
|
Reached the final again and continued strong performances in the league.
|
|
2025
|
Oval Invincibles
|
Regular squad member with important overs and middle-order batting appearances.
|
|
2026
|
MI London
|
Franchise rebranded after investment from Reliance Industries. Curran was appointed captain ahead of the season.
|
Across multiple seasons in The Hundred, he has played more than 30 matches, scored over 700 runs, and taken more than 40 wickets. His dual role with bat and ball helped the team maintain consistent results in the competition.
Domestic career
Samuel Matthew Curran began his domestic cricket career with Surrey County Cricket Club, progressing through the club’s academy system before entering the senior squad. His first-class debut came in 2015 at the age of 17, which placed him among the youngest players to represent Surrey in modern county cricket. Early matches already showed his potential as a left-handed batter and a left-arm medium-fast bowler, roles that later defined his career as an all-rounder.
In county competitions, Curran has represented Surrey in all major formats, including the County Championship, the One-Day Cup, and the Vitality Blast. Performances in these tournaments played an important role in his rapid rise to international cricket. County matches allowed him to develop longer innings in red-ball cricket while also improving his skills in limited-overs formats. One of the notable highlights of his domestic batting career came in 2024 during the Vitality Blast, when he scored his first T20 century with 102 not out at the Kia Oval.
Alongside county cricket, Curran has participated in several franchise competitions around the world. In the Indian Premier League, he has represented teams such as Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, where his aggressive batting and ability to take key wickets brought attention. During the IPL 2023 auction, Punjab Kings secured his contract for ₹18.5 crore, which placed him among the most expensive overseas players in the tournament at that time.
Curran has also played in The Hundred, England’s 100-ball franchise competition, representing Oval Invincibles from the inaugural 2021 season. His role in the squad generally includes middle-order batting and bowling during crucial phases of the innings. The team reached several finals during the early years of the competition and won titles in 2022 and 2023, with Curran forming part of the core group of players.
Other Leagues
Sam Curran has also appeared in several other professional T20 competitions outside the main global tournaments. These leagues provided additional opportunities to play in different conditions and against international players from various countries. His role in these teams usually includes middle-order batting and left-arm seam bowling.
- ILT20: Curran represents Desert Vipers in the International League T20 played in the United Arab Emirates. He joined the franchise in the early seasons of the tournament and became one of the important players in the squad. During the 2025–26 season, he played 12 matches and scored 397 runs, the highest total in the tournament that year, with a top score of 74 not out and a strike rate above 135. Desert Vipers won their first ILT20 title that season after defeating MI Emirates in the final, and Curran received the Player of the Tournament award for his performances.
- Vitality Blast: Curran plays domestic T20 cricket in England’s Vitality Blast for Surrey County Cricket Club, the team where he began his professional career. Across the competition, he has appeared in more than 90 matches, scoring 1879 runs with 1 century and 12 half-centuries, while also taking 94 wickets with a best bowling performance of 5/26. One of his most notable innings came in 2024, when he scored 102 not out at the Kia Oval. Before the 2025 season, Surrey appointed him captain of their T20 side, placing him in charge of match strategy and team leadership.
- SA20: Curran plays in South Africa’s SA20 competition for MI Cape Town. He joined the squad ahead of the inaugural 2023 season as one of the overseas all-rounders. In the 2023 season, he played 9 matches, scoring 74 runs and taking 8 wickets, with best bowling figures of 3/26. During the 2024 season, he appeared in 10 matches, scoring 157 runs and taking 6 wickets. Across the first two seasons of the tournament, he accumulated 231 runs and 14 wickets in 19 matches, while batting mainly in the middle order and providing an additional bowling option.
Records and achievements
Sam Curran collected several notable awards and milestones during his career in international and franchise cricket. His achievements include performances in global tournaments, record transfers in franchise leagues, and early recognition as a young all-round player in English domestic cricket.
- 2015: Made his first-class debut for Surrey at age 17, becoming one of the youngest players to represent the county in modern times.
- 2018: Named Player of the Series in England’s Test series victory against India after scoring 272 runs and taking 11 wickets during the five-match series.
- 2021: Member of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the Indian Premier League title, adding depth to the team as a bowling and batting all-round option.
- 2022: Played a key role in England’s victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Took 13 wickets in the tournament, which was the highest number among England bowlers.
- 2022: Received the Player of the Match award in the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan after taking 3 wickets for 12 runs, one of the decisive bowling performances in the match.
- 2022: Awarded Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for his performances across the competition.
- 2023: Became the most expensive player in IPL history at the time when Punjab Kings bought him for ₹18.5 crore (about £1.85 million) during the IPL auction.
- 2025–26: Named Player of the Tournament in the International League T20 after scoring 397 runs in 12 matches for Desert Vipers and helping the team win the championship.
Personal life
Sam Curran was born on 3 June 1998 in Northampton, England, into a cricket family. His father, Kevin Curran, represented Zimbabwe in international cricket, while his brothers Tom Curran and Ben Curran also built professional careers in the sport. Despite his growing public profile as an international all-rounder, Curran keeps most details about his personal life private and rarely discusses family or relationships in interviews.
Relationship
As of 2026, Sam Curran is not married. Public reports indicate that he has been in a relationship with English actress Isabella Grace, also known as Isabella Symonds Willmott. Information about their relationship remains limited because Curran generally avoids discussing his private life publicly.
Finances
Sam Curran’s estimated net worth is commonly reported between $6–8 million, which equals approximately £4.7–6.3 million. His earnings mainly come from his central contract with the England national team, participation in global franchise tournaments, endorsement agreements, and prize money from international competitions. One of the most notable financial moments in his career occurred during the 2023 Indian Premier League auction, when Punjab Kings signed him for ₹18.5 crore, about $2.2 million. At that moment, the deal became the highest auction price in IPL history.
Houses and Residence
Public information about Sam Curran’s property ownership is limited. He lives mainly in England, spending a large part of his time around London and Surrey, close to the base of Surrey County Cricket Club, where he plays domestic cricket. During international tours and franchise tournaments, he usually stays in accommodation arranged by the team or in temporary residences near the venue.
Fan Base
Sam Curran has built a large international fan base through his performances for England and through participation in global T20 leagues. Support for him is particularly strong in England and India, where he played for franchises such as Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. His social media presence also attracts a significant following. His official profiles include Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook.
