March 21, 2025: Chennai Super Kings all-rounder, Sam Curran, is focused on making a solid comeback to international cricket with England by delivering standout performances in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The 26-year-old has not played for England since a white-ball series against the West Indies in November last year and was notably overlooked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, which led to England’s captain, Jos Buttler, stepping down after a series of poor results in Pakistan.
Despite being primarily known as a T20I specialist, having played a pivotal role in England’s 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory, Curran has also featured in 24 Tests and 35 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since making his debut for England in 2018. With Brendon McCullum taking over as England’s head coach earlier this year and a new white-ball captain yet to be appointed, Curran sees a fresh opportunity to return to the national team, especially with England set to host several key series, including matches against West Indies, India, and South Africa at home.
Before that, however, Curran’s focus is on the IPL 2025, where he will once again team up with his former New Zealand coach, Stephen Fleming, at Chennai Super Kings. The franchise, which finished fifth in the IPL 2024 season, is looking to improve its performance, and Curran hopes that strong performances in the IPL will catch the eye of McCullum and England selectors.
Curran spoke candidly about his intentions during the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, stating, “My main aim is probably just to get back into the (England white-ball) side. With England, I guess I’ve never really found that perfect role… I feel like if I get my role right with England, I’ll get back into it, who knows what will happen now.” He also added, “I was obviously gutted when it happened, but I’m still pretty young and feel like I have matured when it comes to handling the bad stuff.”
Curran’s leadership credentials are also set to be tested as he will captain Surrey in England’s domestic Vitality Blast competition. This experience could put him in contention for a potential leadership role with the national team, especially with McCullum open to the possibility of separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.
Reflecting on his interactions with McCullum, Curran said, “Baz (McCullum) called me at the start when I did get left out, was clear and honest, and I respected that.” Curran acknowledged McCullum’s direct approach, which allowed him to understand what he needed to do to earn a recall to the squad.
As Curran heads into the IPL 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings, he remains optimistic that good performances will pave the way for a return to the England setup come the summer. He concluded, “Fingers crossed, come June, I’ll be back in the squads and performing.”
Curran’s journey in IPL 2025 could be a pivotal moment in his career, as he strives to regain his place in England’s cricketing ranks.