England all-rounder Sam Curran has been in stellar form in the ongoing season and in many ways, helping his side win the series 3-1 with one match to go. It has been a stunning season for young Curran who has bailed his team out of a precarious position, not once but twice over the course of four matches. This has forced the IPL teams to sit up and take notice of his pedigree.
As things stand now, a number of IPL teams including Royal Challengers Bangalore are keen in lapping up the services of Curran as performances which come against India hold significant importance.
While Curran has shone with the bat, his counter-attacking approach fits in perfectly with the pace of T20 cricket and his left-arm bowling provides another unique dimension to his game. And then, the importance of an all-rounder in the IPL cannot be underlined enough.
Much will depend on 2019 World Cup
However, Curran is taking things as they come. Much will depend on the 2019 World Cup and whether or not England take him in the squad and also on his personal ambitions. With England already having David Willey in the ranks, it will be interesting to see if the selectors catapult Curran to the ODI setup.
While Curran's county Surrey is not adverse to players joining the IPL, it remains to be seen if the England Cricket Board is willing to give the 20-year old a chance and expose him to the frenetic action of the IPL. Tom Curran, the older sibling, did turn up for Kolkata Knight Riders this season and had mixed results, but with Sam, the franchises are showing considerable interest considering his age and all-round skills.
What has impressed the England selectors and now the IPL teams is the temperament of young Curran and his ability to remain unfazed in pressure scenarios. If he does manage to break into the ODI squad, he will have to return to the country late April next year due to International commitments, a possible factor IPL franchises will keep in mind if they want to snap him up for the next season.
