IPL 2026: KKR and GT Secure Player Replacements Ahead of Season

As the IPL 2026 season approaches, Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans have made crucial player replacements. KKR has signed Navdeep Saini to replace the injured Harshit Rana, while GT has brought in Kulwant Khejroliya for Prithviraj Yarra. This article details the squads for both teams and the implications of these changes for the upcoming season. Stay tuned for more updates on the IPL 2026.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 25, 2026, 21:24 IST

Player Replacements Announced for IPL 2026

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who have clinched the championship title three times, and the Gujarat Titans (GT), a one-time winner, have made significant player replacements for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. KKR has signed right-arm fast bowler Navdeep Saini, who has taken 23 wickets in 32 IPL matches and an equal number in international games for India. He will step in for the injured Harshit Rana, joining KKR for a fee of Rs 75 Lakh. Rana sustained a knee injury during a warm-up match for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup against South Africa and has since undergone surgery, with his return date still uncertain according to the BCCI medical team.

Khejroliya Joins Gujarat Titans

In a parallel move, Kulwant Khejroliya has been brought in to replace the injured Prithviraj Yarra at Gujarat Titans. The left-arm pacer, who has recorded six wickets in the IPL, has previously played for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join the Titans for Rs 30 Lakh.

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2026

The roster for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026 season includes: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, and Blessing Muzarabani.

Gujarat Titans Squad for IPL 2026

The Gujarat Titans' lineup for IPL 2026 features: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, and Luke Wood.