IPL 2026 replacements: As the countdown begins for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Navdeep Saini as a replacement for injured pacer Harshit Rana, who bowed out of the tournament earlier, the franchise confirmed on Wednesday. Rana underwent a knee surgery last month, prompting him to pull out of the tournament. Notably, he also had to miss out on the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which India went on to win. [caption id="attachment_1683" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
KKR logo[/caption]Gujarat Titans manage to replace Yarra with Khejroliya
In a simultaneous development, Gujarat Titans have roped in left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya as a replacement for Prithiviraj Yarra, bolstering their bowling attack. The IPL authorities confirmed the aforementioned changes by issuing an official statement on Wednesday.
IPL 2026 replacements: Saini has 23 wickets named in his name
Saini, who represents Delhi in domestic cricket, brings in a wealth of experience. He has claimed 23 wickets in 32 IPL matches, alongside 23 international wickets for India. He has joined KKR for a fee of Rs 75 lakh, adding pace depth to an already strong bowling unit.
Meanwhile, Khejroliya has six IPL wickets to his name, and has previously featured for multiple franchises, including Kolkata, Gujarat and IPL 2025 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He has joined Gujarat Titans for Rs 30 lakh.
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Kulwant Khejroliya[/caption]Ajinkya Rahane to headline KKR
With the last-minute changes, both teams have fine-tuned their squads ahead of the much-awaited tournament. Ajinkya Rahane-led KKR boast a balanced line-up, featuring the likes of Sunil Narine, Rinku SIngh and Varun Chakravarthy. Shubhman Gill is set to captain Gujarat Titans, and the team will rely on a strong core including players like Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler and Mohammed Siraj.
Countdown to IPL 2026 begins
As the 2026 installment of IPL nears, franchises are racing against time to ensure optimal squad combinations. Injuries have prompted swift replacements, and both KKR, as well as Gujarat Titans will be eyeing a strong start to the campaign.
RCB to face SRH in IPL 2026’s first match
In the opening match of the season, IPL 2025 challengers RCB will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The match will take place at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru from 7:30 PM onwards.
Also read: IPL 2026: Ben Duckett withdraws from tournament to prioritise England commitments, likely to face two-year ban