Colombo, May 26: Just three days after announcing his retirement from IPL and domestic cricket, former Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been included in the special lineup for the sixth season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). This season is set to take place from July 17 to August 8.
The Tamil Nadu cricketer will represent the ‘Kandy Royals’ in the LPL 2026. The team boasts prominent international players such as England’s Moeen Ali and Bangladesh’s experienced Shakib Al Hasan, who have been retained ahead of the player draft scheduled for June 1.
Vijay Shankar, who represented India in the 2019 ODI World Cup, made headlines by taking a wicket with his very first ball in the tournament. He is expected to bring valuable experience and balance to the Kandy Royals team.
In preparation for the upcoming season, the franchise has built a strong squad, retaining Sri Lankan stars Wanindu Hasaranga and Angelo Mathews, along with Moeen Ali.
The current champions, Jaffna Kings, aim to maintain their dominance in the tournament and have also retained Shakib Al Hasan, along with Sri Lankan internationals Dunith Wellalage and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
Organizers have reported that over 650 foreign players from 21 cricket-playing nations have registered for the upcoming draft. The LPL 2026 will also feature West Indies legend Chris Gayle as the league’s brand ambassador.
A total of five teams will participate in the Sri Lanka Cricket League 2026, including SC Jaffna Kings, Kandy Royals, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Gladiators, and Colombo Caps. The matches will be played in a double round-robin format, followed by playoffs. The season opener will be held between Jaffna Kings and Galle Gladiators on July 17, with the final scheduled for August 8.
At 35, Vijay Shankar has played 12 ODIs and 9 T20s for India. In his IPL career, he has played a total of 78 matches for four teams, scoring 1,233 runs at an average of 26.23.