Vijay Shankar is preparing for his opening stint in the Lanka Premier League after Kandy Royals snapped up the Indian all-rounder as one of their marquee signings for the 2026 season. Shankar, who has recently stepped away from Indian domestic cricket and the IPL, will spearhead the pre-draft arrivals ahead of the sixth edition of the tournament.
Kandy Royals’ marquee splash for LPL 2026
Kandy Royals have moved to build a high-impact core before the player draft, naming Shankar alongside a trio of other big names. The Royals have also secured Angelo Mathews, Wanindu Hasaranga and Moeen Ali, creating a marquee group that stands out for both experience and skill variety.
- Vijay Shankar becomes Kandy’s headline signing for the 2026 LPL season.
- Angelo Mathews is added to the marquee set for Kandy.
- Wanindu Hasaranga joins as a key spin-bowling all-round presence.
- Moeen Ali rounds out the overseas marquee group with his batting and spin options.
Why the move matters for Shankar and Kandy
The signing is especially notable for Shankar, who remains available for overseas T20 competitions even after concluding his involvement with India’s domestic setup. For Kandy, it brings an experienced Indian option who can slot into the middle order as a batter and also contribute with seam-bowling skills as an all-rounder.
- Shankar’s availability keeps him open to overseas T20 opportunities despite leaving India’s domestic circuit.
- Kandy gain a multi-skill player capable of both middle-order batting and seam-bowling.
- The move also strengthens the franchise’s overall profile as it shapes its squad ahead of the draft.
Other teams’ pre-draft recruitment and tournament details
Kandy are one of two franchises using the entire pre-draft signing window. Dambulla Sixers have also been active, bringing in four players ahead of the draft period: Reeza Hendricks from South Africa, Dinesh Chandimal from Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera, and Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan.
Meanwhile, the defending champions SC Jaffna Kings have already landed three marquee signings. Their list includes Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, along with Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Galle Gallants have added Eshan Malinga and Dasun Shanaka, while Colombo Kaps have strengthened their early group by signing Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis.
The LPL’s regulations permitted each side to make up to two overseas retentions or signings, along with two Sri Lankan marquee picks, before the player draft. Kandy’s marquee structure matches those guidelines, with Shankar and Moeen as the overseas additions and Hasaranga and Mathews covering their Sri Lankan marquee requirements.
- Kandy are among the teams using the complete pre-draft signing window.
- Dambulla Sixers signed Reeza Hendricks, Dinesh Chandimal, Dushmantha Chameera and Sahibzada Farhan.
- SC Jaffna Kings (defending champions) made three marquee additions: Shakib Al Hasan, Dunith Wellalage and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
- Galle Gallants signed Eshan Malinga and Dasun Shanaka.
- Colombo Kaps added Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis.
Draft date, schedule, overseas pool and Shankar’s IPL background
The player draft for LPL 2026 is scheduled for June 1. The competition 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 league is also expected to attract a sizeable overseas pool. Reports suggest that more than 650 foreign players have registered, with 310 to be shortlisted after screening before the draft.
For Vijay Shankar, the Kandy move offers a new franchise chapter 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 several franchises, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings.
With the early squad taking shape, Kandy’s balance is built around experience, local connection and all-round depth. Hasaranga provides a world-class spin-bowling all-round skill set, Mathews brings seasoned Sri Lankan pedigree, Moeen adds a left-handed batting dimension alongside off-spin, and Shankar offers yet another multi-skill overseas option ahead of the rest of the roster being finalised through the draft.
