Sam Curran: Age, Wife, IPL 2026 Replacement

The Curran name is a familiar one in English cricket, but even regular fans can get confused about the brothers. Sam Curran, born 3 June 1998, has been a central figure for England across all formats, yet his IPL 2026 availability has sparked confusion. With a reported injury withdrawal and a replacement already named, here’s what’s actually confirmed about Sam Curran’s family, career, and next moves.

Born: 3 June 1998 ·
Major Teams: England, Surrey, Punjab Kings (IPL) ·
Playing Role: Left-arm seam bowling all-rounder ·
IPL 2022 MVP: Most Valuable Player (Punjab Kings) ·
T20 World Cup 2022: Player of the Tournament ·
England caps (Tests/ODIs/T20Is): 24 / 58 / 44

Six key facts about Sam Curran, from his full name to his estimated net worth.

Are Tom and Sam Curran twins?

It’s a common mix-up: the Curran brothers, both international cricketers, often get mistaken for twins. But the facts are clear.

Ages of the Curran brothers

• Tom Curran was born on 12 March 1995 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• Sam Curran was born on 3 June 1998 (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• They are three years apart, not twins.

Are Tom and Sam identical?

• They are not identical; they have different bowling styles and roles.
• Tom is a right-arm fast-medium bowler; Sam is a left-arm seam all-rounder.

The implication: the twin rumor is easily debunked with a birth-date check. The confusion likely stems from their shared surname and simultaneous presence in English cricket.

The pattern: without verified birth records, fans rely on visual similarity and shared profession to assume a twin relationship that does not exist.

Does Sam Curran have a wife?

Sam Curran’s personal life has been a subject of curiosity, especially after his IPL success. Here’s what is known.

Who is Sam Curran’s partner?

• Sam Curran is not married, according to public records and sports profiles (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))
• He is reportedly in a relationship with Isabella Symonds Willmott, though neither has confirmed publicly (IPL.com (official league site))

Is his wife a cricketer?

• No, Sam Curran does not have a wife, so there is no cricketer spouse.
• The question may arise from the fact that some cricketers’ wives are also cricketers, but this is not the case for Curran.

The pattern: Sam Curran’s relationship status is an open question, but the confirmed fact is that he is not married. Any claim of a wife is unfounded.

Why do the Curran brothers play for different countries?

A persistent rumor claims that one Curran brother plays for England and the other for New Zealand. The reality is simpler.

Tom Curran’s nationality

• Tom Curran was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but represents England internationally (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• He has also played for New Zealand XI in domestic tournaments, but that does not change his international allegiance (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))

Sam Curran’s England career

• Sam Curran was born in Northampton, England, and has played for England at all levels (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• Both brothers are English cricket representatives; there is no permanent split.

The catch: the confusion arises from Tom Curran’s New Zealand XI appearances, but both hold England caps. Their international careers are intertwined, not divided.

Is Sam Curran not playing in IPL 2026?

The 2026 IPL season has been a rollercoaster for Sam Curran. Here’s the timeline.

Sam Curran’s IPL 2026 availability

• Sam Curran was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the 2025 mega auction (ESPNcricinfo (cricket news outlet))
• He was then traded to Rajasthan Royals for the 2026 season (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• However, he withdrew from IPL 2026 due to a groin injury (ESPN (sports news outlet))

Rajasthan Royals replacement plans

• Rajasthan Royals signed Dasun Shanaka as Curran’s replacement for the 2026 season (News18 (Indian news outlet))
• Kumar Sangakkara expressed disappointment that Curran turned out for Surrey while IPL 2026 was still ongoing (ESPN (sports news outlet))
• Curran later said the groin issue had been building for a while and the decision to withdraw was “tough” (Times of India (Indian news outlet))

The trade-off: Curran’s international commitments and injury management have created a scheduling conflict that has cost him a full IPL season. For Rajasthan Royals, it means a mid-season replacement and a dent in their plans.

Why doesn’t Sam Curran play for England?

After being a regular in England’s white-ball setup, Curran’s appearances have become less frequent. But that doesn’t mean he’s out of the picture.

Recent England absence

• Sam Curran was left out of some England squads in 2024–25 due to workload management, according to the team management (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• He remains an active England player across all formats and was part of England’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))

Injury or form issues

• Curran’s groin injury in early 2026 contributed to his absence from some matches (ESPN (sports news outlet))
• However, he has not been dropped on form; his T20I bowling average remains competitive.

What this means: Sam Curran is still very much part of England’s plans, but managing his workload across formats, especially with IPL commitments, has led to periodic rests. No permanent exclusion.

Timeline: Sam Curran’s career milestones

• 3 June 1998: Born in Northampton, England (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• 2013: Made first-class debut for Surrey (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• June 2018: Test debut against Pakistan (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• 2019: IPL debut for Kings XI Punjab (ESPNcricinfo (cricket news outlet))
• November 2022: Player of the Tournament at T20 World Cup (ESPNcricinfo (cricket news outlet))
• 2024: Released by Punjab Kings (ESPNcricinfo (cricket news outlet))
• 2026: Withdrew from IPL 2026 due to groin injury; replaced by Dasun Shanaka (ESPN (sports news outlet))

What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

• Sam Curran is not Tom Curran’s twin; they are three years apart (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• Sam Curran is unmarried as of 2025 (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))
• He has played for England in all formats (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• Punjab Kings released him ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction (ESPNcricinfo (cricket news outlet))

What’s unclear

• Who exactly is replacing Sam Curran in IPL 2026? (team statement awaited) (News18 (Indian news outlet))
• Whether he will play for England in the 2026 tour (Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise official site))
• Exact net worth figure ($5–7 million estimated) (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))
• Relationship status beyond unconfirmed rumors (IPL.com (official league site))

What the experts say

“I was disappointed that he turned out for Surrey while IPL 2026 was still ongoing.”

— Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket (ESPN (sports news outlet))

“It was a tough decision, but the groin issue had been building for a while.”

— Sam Curran, on his IPL 2026 withdrawal (Times of India (Indian news outlet))

For Rajasthan Royals, the Curran saga is a cautionary tale of the IPL’s scheduling conflict with international cricket. With Curran prioritising his England commitments and managing injuries, the franchise has had to pivot mid-season. For Sam Curran, the choice is clear: manage his workload carefully, or risk being remembered as the all-rounder who couldn’t stay on the park.

Related reading: Sam Curran IPL Profile · Sam Curran Family

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Sam Curran IPL Profile (Rajasthan Royals official site)
• Sam Curran Family (Sportskeeda)