Kandy royals

Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela: Just three days after announcing his retirement from international cricket, former India all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been unveiled as one of the marquee signings for the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), scheduled to be held from July 17 to August 8 across Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer will represent Kandy Royals in LPL 2026 and joins a star-studded lineup that includes England all-rounder Moeen Ali and Bangladesh veteran Shakib Al Hasan among the top overseas names retained ahead of the player draft on June 1.

Shankar, who represented India at the 2019 ODI World Cup and famously picked up a wicket with his very first delivery in the tournament, is expected to add valuable experience and balance to the Kandy Royals squad.