Vijay Shankar finds new franchise route after IPL exit as Kandy Royals sign him for LPL 2026

Vijay Shankar joins Kandy Royals for the 2026 Lanka Premier League, marking his debut in the tournament.

Updated on: May 26, 2026, 19:08:39 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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Vijay Shankar is set for his first Lanka Premier League stint after Kandy Royals signed the Indian all-rounder as one of their marquee players for the 2026 season.

Shankar, who recently retired from Indian domestic cricket and the IPL, headlines the pre-draft signings for the sixth edition of the tournament. Kandy Royals have also signed Angelo Mathews, Wanindu Hasaranga and Moeen Ali, giving them one of the strongest marquee groups before the player draft.

The move is significant for Shankar, who remains available for overseas T20 leagues despite stepping away from India’s domestic structure. His signing gives Kandy an experienced Indian option who can contribute as a middle-order batter and seam-bowling all-rounder, while also adding profile value to the franchise.

Kandy are one of two teams to use the full pre-draft signing window. Dambulla Sixers have also brought in four players, signing South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal, Dushmantha Chameera, and Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan.

Kandy build strong marquee core before LPL draft

Defending champions SC Jaffna Kings have made three marquee signings, bringing in Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan along with Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Galle Gallants have signed Eshan Malinga and Dasun Shanaka, while Colombo Kaps have added Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis.

The LPL regulations allowed each side to make a maximum of two overseas retentions or signings, along with two Sri Lankan marquee picks, before the player draft. Kandy’s group fits that structure with Shankar and Moeen as overseas additions, and Hasaranga and Mathews as their Sri Lankan marquee names.

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The player draft for LPL 2026 will be held on June 1. The tournament will run from July 17 to August 8 and will feature five teams: Kandy Royals, Dambulla Sixers, SC Jaffna Kings, Galle Gallants and Colombo Kaps.

The sixth edition is also expected to have a large overseas pool. More than 650 foreign players have reportedly registered, with 310 to be shortlisted after screening before the draft.

For Vijay Shankar, the Kandy move opens a fresh franchise route after the end of his IPL and domestic career in India. The 35-year-old has previously represented India in ODIs and T20Is and has played in the IPL for multiple franchises, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings.

Kandy’s early squad shape now carries experience, local pedigree and all-round depth. Hasaranga gives them a world-class spin-bowling all-rounder, Mathews brings senior Sri Lankan experience, Moeen adds left-handed batting and off-spin, while Shankar offers another multi-skill overseas option before the rest of the squad is completed at the draft.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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