Gujarat Titans Sign Kulwant Khejroliya as Prithviraj Yarra’s IPL 2026 Injury Replacement

Gujarat Titans have confirmed their latest injury replacement ahead of IPL 2026, picking left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya in place of uncapped fast bowler Prithviraj Yarra, who has been ruled out due to injury. The BCCI officially confirmed the news just days before the season opener, adding GT to the growing list of franchises dealing with bowling setbacks before a ball has been bowled. GT will begin their campaign on March 31 against Punjab Kings.

Prithviraj Yarra was brought in at the IPL 2026 mini-auction for a base price of just Rs 30 lakh. The young right-arm pacer from Andhra Pradesh was seen as a value pick for GT, someone who could chip in with overs without costing much on the purse. He never got the chance to prove himself on the big stage though. His injury ahead of the tournament means GT now head into the season with one less bowling option than they had planned for.

Who Is Kulwant Khejroliya?

Kulwant Khejroliya is not a stranger to the IPL. The left-arm pacer from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, has had stints with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and previously Gujarat Titans as well. He has been around the circuit for several years and knows what franchise cricket demands. The fact that GT turned to him specifically suggests they want a bowler who can handle pressure and slot into the setup quickly without much adjustment time.

What makes Khejroliya a useful option is his left-arm angle, which automatically brings variety to any bowling attack. In T20 cricket, that change of angle matters. With right-arm options like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Luke Wood already in the squad, having a left-arm seamer adds a different dimension.

GT’s first match is on March 31, leaving very little time for Khejroliya to settle in. Whether he gets a straight game or is used as cover to begin with will depend on the team management’s final call on combinations.

GT’s Bowling Situation Heading Into IPL 2026

Gujarat Titans have put together a strong bowling group on paper. Rashid Khan provides the spin backbone, while Rabada and Siraj lead the pace attack. Prasidh Krishna is valuable in the middle overs, and Luke Wood gives them a left-arm option from overseas as well. Jason Holder can contribute with the ball in the lower order too.

However, the depth of the pace attack beyond the first four was always a question mark. Yarra was expected to be part of that depth, giving GT an extra seam-bowling option if conditions suited or if they needed to rotate. Khejroliya stepping in fills that gap, at least on paper. Whether he delivers in match situations is something only the season will tell.

There are also wider concerns flagged by former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif ahead of the season. He pointed out that GT’s bowling at the death needs attention, specifically noting that Siraj is primarily a new-ball bowler and that the Ahmedabad ground offers big square boundaries. GT will need their death bowling to be tight if they want to defend or chase totals in crunch games.

IPL 2026 Pre-Season Injury Wave Hits Multiple Franchises

GT are far from alone in dealing with injury problems before the tournament. The pre-season injury list across all ten teams has been unusually long this time around, largely because of the packed calendar. A T20 World Cup concluded just weeks before IPL 2026, leaving several players either carrying niggles or needing rest.

KKR have lost both Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, two of their frontline pacers. Navdeep Saini has been brought in for Rana, and Saurabh Dubey replaces Akash Deep. CSK are without Nathan Ellis for the full season and Spencer Johnson for at least the first few games due to a back issue. RR signed Dasun Shanaka as a late replacement for Sam Curran. SRH’s Pat Cummins is recovering from a lumbar stress injury and is unlikely to be available for the opener. You can check the updated Gujarat Titans squad and fixtures for the latest confirmed changes heading into their first game.

What This Means for GT’s Season

Gujarat Titans are a well-structured side. They have Shubman Gill leading the batting, Sai Sudharsan as a consistent run-scorer, and Jos Buttler bringing firepower at the top. The bowling has Rashid Khan as its anchor. The squad overall looks balanced, but their depth in the pace department was always going to be tested over the course of 14 group stage matches.

Losing Yarra before the season even begins does not break the squad, but it removes a low-cost option they had in reserve. Khejroliya brings experience in return, so the swap is not necessarily a step down. GT will open their IPL 2026 season schedule with a home fixture against Punjab Kings at the PCA New Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on March 31, and fans will see early on how Ashish Nehra sets up the bowling combinations.

The latest IPL 2026 news and updates will keep you posted as squads finalise and more replacement decisions come through before the deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Prithviraj Yarra ruled out of IPL 2026?

Prithviraj Yarra has been ruled out due to an injury. GT confirmed his replacement just days before the season starts.

Who is replacing Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat Titans squad?

Left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya has been signed as Yarra’s official replacement for IPL 2026.

When do Gujarat Titans play their first IPL 2026 match?

GT open their campaign on March 31, 2026, against Punjab Kings at the PCA New Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur.

Has Kulwant Khejroliya played IPL before?

Yes. Khejroliya has played for Mumbai Indians, RCB, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and previously Gujarat Titans as well.

How many IPL 2026 injury replacements have been made so far?

Several franchises have made replacements including KKR, CSK, RR, SRH, and now GT, making this one of the most disrupted pre-seasons in recent IPL history.

Who is GT’s captain for IPL 2026?

Shubman Gill continues as Gujarat Titans captain for the IPL 2026 season.