As the IPL 2026 season approaches, teams have started making key changes to their squads due to injury concerns. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) have both announced replacement players to strengthen their line-ups before the tournament begins. KKR, one of the most successful franchises in IPL history, has brought in experienced pacer Navdeep Saini. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have added left-arm seamer Kulwant Khejroliya to their squad. These changes come as both teams look to stay competitive despite losing key players to injuries. The IPL continues to see last-minute squad adjustments every season, and this year is no different. With injuries impacting team combinations, franchises are acting quickly to ensure they have the right balance going into the tournament. Navdeep saini joins KKR as Harshit Rana’s replacement Kolkata Knight Riders have signed right-arm fast bowler Navdeep Saini as a replacement for Harshit Rana. Saini, who has played 32 IPL matches and taken 23 wickets, also has 23 international wickets for India, bringing valuable experience to the team. According to an official IPL statement, Saini will join KKR for ₹75 lakh. Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course.” Harshit Rana suffered a knee injury during a warm-up match against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The injury turned serious, and he had to undergo knee surgery. He is currently in rehabilitation, and there is no clear timeline for his return, as confirmed by the BCCI medical team. Kulwant Khejroliya returns to Gujarat Titans for ₹30 lakhs Gujarat Titans have named Kulwant Khejroliya as a replacement for Prithviraj Yarra. The left-arm pacer will join the team for ₹30 lakh and is expected to add depth to the bowling unit. Khejroliya has taken six wickets in the IPL so far and has experience of playing for multiple franchises, including GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His familiarity with different team environments could prove useful for Gujarat this season. Prithviraj Yarra’s injury has forced GT to look for a reliable backup, and Khejroliya’s inclusion provides them with an experienced option in the pace department. Post navigation ‘Have to win our first trophy,’ says Sanjiv Goenka:LSG owner insists, ‘Until you win, you don’t receive the same level of respect’
