Sam Curran, the 2022 T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament, is determined to earn an international recall and hopes a strong IPL campaign with the Chennai Super Kings will put him back on England’s radar.
The all-rounder hasn’t featured for England since their white-ball series against the West Indies in November last year. He was also left out of the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a tournament that saw Jos Buttler resign as captain after England endured a winless campaign in Pakistan.
While Curran is best known for his T20I exploits—having played a key role in England’s World Cup triumph in Australia—he has also represented his country in 24 Tests and 35 ODIs since making his debut in 2018.
With Brendon McCullum now overseeing England in all formats and a new white-ball captain set to be named soon, Curran sees plenty of opportunity ahead. England is set to host the West Indies, India, and South Africa this summer, but first, his focus is on making an impact in the IPL.
Teaming up with Kiwi coach Stephen Fleming at CSK, Curran is eager to impress and believes strong performances in Chennai could help him catch McCullum’s eye.
“I feel like if I can nail my role, I’ll get back in. The cliché is true—runs and wickets matter. I feel in a good space, and while missing out was tough, I’ve matured in how I handle setbacks. Hopefully, a strong IPL can get me back in the mix.”
“My main aim is to get back into the England white-ball side,” Curran told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“With England, I’ve never really found that perfect role. In the Champions Trophy and the series in India (earlier this year), they stacked the batting with extra quicks, which meant I missed out.
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Beyond the IPL, Curran will also captain Surrey in the Vitality Blast, adding leadership experience to his résumé. With McCullum open to the idea of separate captains for ODIs and T20Is, a strong domestic campaign could further strengthen Curran’s case for a bigger role in England’s future.
“If it’s the same person, great. If it’s two, that’s great too,” McCullum said about England’s captaincy shake-up.
“Give me a couple of weeks to work it out and get this thing back on track.”
Although Curran has yet to play under McCullum, he appreciates the coach’s honesty and sees a clear path back to the national setup.
“Baz called me when I got left out, and he was clear and honest, which I respected,” Curran said.
“He told me the door wasn’t shut, but I needed to go away and perform. Sometimes, those tough conversations can be the best motivator. Fingers crossed, by June, I’ll be back in the squad and making an impact.”
With IPL glory and an England recall in his sights, Curran is ready to prove himself once again.
