The Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar joined the list of former Indian cricketers who signed with a foreign league. Shankar became the fifth Indian to be part of the Lankan Premier League after Kandy Royals officially announced his arrival. On May 26, Kandy Royals announced on their social media that Vijay Shankar will be a part of their squad for the upcoming 2026 Lankan Premier League, starting on July 17. Vijay Shankar announced his retirement from international cricket on May 22. In that, he expressed his will to explore opportunities all around the world. And within four days, the deal with Kandy Royals became official. In the social media post, the league wrote, “You’ve seen him before in the heat of battle… but never like this. Different stage. Same calm fire. Now entering Kandy Royals." Shankar, who had earlier played for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, will join his former CSK mate Manreet Gony and other former Indians to feature in the league. Indians in the Lankan Premier League Player Team Year Manpreet Gony Colombo Kings 2020 Irfan Pathan Kandy Tuskers 2020 Munaf Patel Kandy Tuskers 2020 Sudeep Tyagi Dambulla Viking 2020 Vijay Shankar Kandy Royals 2026 Read also: IPL 2026 Playoffs: Who Reaches Final if RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 Gets Washed Out Due to Rain? LPL 2026 Returns Revamped Format The sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League is set to return from July 17 to August 8, 2026, after a two-year gap. Organised by Sri Lanka Cricket alongside the IPG Group, the tournament was delayed to facilitate preparations for the Men's T20 World Cup. Defending champions Jaffna Kings will face Galle Titans in the opening clash, while the final will be staged at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The 2026 LPL draft, scheduled for June 1, has attracted over 650 overseas registrations from 21 countries. Pakistan tops the list with 102 players, followed by West Indies with 75 and South Africa with 66. Sri Lanka Cricket will trim the pool to 310 shortlisted names. A major change this season is the no-retention policy, limiting teams to four pre-draft picks. The league will also expand to four venues for the first time, with 24 league matches and a four-team playoff structure deciding the champion.