Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill included left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya in the playing XI for the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, marking a notable selection decision in the high-stakes encounter.
After winning the toss, Gill elected to field first, citing conditions and the possibility of dew in the second innings. He confirmed one change in the lineup, with Khejroliya replacing Arshad Khan.
“We’re gonna bowl first. It looks like a good wicket, but there is a bit of dew in the second innings. We have one change. Kulwant comes in in place of Arshad Khan,” Gill said at the toss.
Kulwant Khejroliya’s IPL journey and domestic career
Born on March 13, 1992, in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Kulwant Khejroliya is a left-arm medium-fast bowler who has represented Delhi and Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket.
He first came into the IPL spotlight in 2017 when Mumbai Indians signed him following a strong Vijay Hazare Trophy season. However, he did not feature in any matches that year. In 2018, he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for INR 85 lakh after impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances, where he played five matches across two seasons.
Khejroliya was later signed by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023 for INR 20 lakh, where he played two matches and took two wickets. He also spent time with Delhi Capitals but did not feature in any games. Ahead of IPL 2025, Gujarat Titans added him to their squad, where he played one match before earning a recall for the high-pressure IPL 2026 playoff against his former team RCB.
Across his IPL career, he has played eight matches and taken six wickets. In overall T20 cricket, he has featured in 26 matches, claiming 27 wickets with a best of 4/26.
GT vs RCB qualifier match
The winner of the clash between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will directly qualify for the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
RCB entered the match as table toppers with nine wins and five losses, finishing on 18 points. Gujarat Titans also ended the league stage with an identical record, securing second place on net run rate. RCB posted a commanding 254/5 in their 20 overs, while Gujarat Titans were reduced to 78/7 in 11 overs at the time of reporting.
