Sam Curran: England’s White-Ball Leader Reborn with MI London Captaincy Call

Sam Curran debuted for England at 19. Won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022 at the age of 24, including the man of the match award in the final and the player of the tournament. 

The bowling all-rounder had a great chance to be in the reckoning for England white-ball captaincy at one point, before inconsistent performances pushed him out in 2024.

He returned last September, stronger, fitter and with a moonball, an ultra-slow delivery that clocks around 42-47mph, to deceive batters in T20 cricket. 

Before England finished in the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup this year, Curran took a hat-trick in a T20I against Sri Lanka and also led the Desert Vipers to the ILT20 title, where he was the top run-getter (397) at a strike-rate of 135.49. Once again, he was the player of the match in the final and also bagged the player of the tournament award.

It was a no-brainer that MI London, formerly known as Oval Invincibles, would hand him captaincy in the rebranded edition of The Hundred in 2026, that starts in July, as the southpaw was instrumental in the franchise's three consecutive titles from 2023 to 2025.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF CURRAN

Every cricket team prefers players who will be part of the leadership group, even if they are not named the official captain. 

Curran's T20 white-ball captaincy potential received a shot in the arm with his recent ascension. It augurs well for England, as well as for the franchises he would represent. How good a leader is he? 

"His leadership with the Vipers this year was exceptional. He took the reins after Ferg (Lockie Ferguson) had to withdraw due to injury. His performances with the Oval Invincibles contributed greatly to their three-peat championship success. He works hard on his game and maintains a healthy balance of professional preparation and chill time," renowned Australian coach Simon Helmot, who worked with Curran in the ILT20, told Sportsboom.co.uk. 

Apart from the Desert Vipers, Curran also led the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League and Surrey in the T20 Blast. The all-rounder has always said in his interviews how much he loves the tactical side of captaincy. 

"Sam is the ultimate competitor. He has a steely resolve, and he loves the battle - thrives in winning the individual contest and, most importantly, the match. He enjoys leading, has the respect of his players, and is often feared by the opposition," added Helmot, who is also known for nurturing players at Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

CURRAN AT HIS BEST IN BIG GAMES

Curran has demonstrated his ability to perform well in crucial matches on multiple occasions. When he stepped in to lead the Punjab Kings in 2023 after regular captain Shikhar Dhawan was unavailable due to an injury, he finished with the best bowling figures (3/31) for a captain on debut in the league. 

"He has become a consistent performer with both bat and ball. Happy to bowl the tough overs in any phase. Takes responsibility with the bat, frequently involved in match- winning partnerships and nailing match-defining scores," said Helmot.

Former cricketers have spoken highly of his work ethic and man-management skills. L. Balaji, the former bowling coach of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, where Curran played in the past, had called him "captaincy material". Helmot, who has worked with top guns such as David Warner and Kane Williamson, called Curran "an excellent team man."

"His team-mates enjoy his attitude on and off the field, and from a coach's point of view, he is a pleasure to work with," he said.

Curran's 75 T20Is and 41 ODIs for England may not reflect his potential as much as his experience across franchise leagues. 

Overall, he appeared in 330 T20 matches with 5596 runs, including a hundred and 33 fifties, alongside 312 wickets.

Next, Curran will be in action at the IPL for Rajasthan Royals. He is likely to play a key role in the franchise that traded him from CSK for Rs 2.4 crore. By the time the tournament finishes in India, he will be raring to have a go at The Hundred for a fourth-straight title with MI London.