Gujarat Titans (GT) are currently preparing for a high-stakes IPL 2026 encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), set to take place on April 17 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, their preparations have been hampered by the loss of English talent Tom Banton. The IPL confirmed on April 17 that Banton has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season due to a finger injury.
GT's Tom Banton ruled out of IPL 2026
In a swift move to maintain squad depth as the tournament enters its critical stages, the franchise has signed South African wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen as a replacement. The 24-year-old, who recently made his international debut against New Zealand, joins the Titans at his base price of Rs 75 lakh. This transition sets the stage for Esterhuizen to make his highly anticipated IPL debut in the coming fixtures.
“Gujarat Titans (GT) have signed Connor Esterhuizen as a replacement for Tom Banton, who has been ruled out of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 owing to a finger injury. Esterhuizen, a wicketkeeper-batter, recently made his international debut for South Africa against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series last month. He made an impressive start, winning two Player of the Match awards and was also named Player of the Series, helping his team clinch the series 3-2 after being 2-1 down. This will be the 24-year-old’s first stint in the IPL. He will join GT at his base price of INR 75 Lakh," GT's press release read.
Connor Esterhuizen's profile
While Connor Esterhuizen has been a fixture in the SA20 for three seasons, he initially struggled to meet the high expectations surrounding his talent. However, a recent breakout performance in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand changed that narrative; he dominated the opposition with consecutive half-centuries in the final two games. The Gujarat Titans explicitly cited this surge in form as the primary reason for his mid-season signing.
KKR's horrendous show in IPL 2026
Currently, the 2022 champions find themselves in sixth place on the points table, having split their first four games with two wins and two losses. Their next challenge comes on April 17, when they host the Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite KKR’s winless record so far this season, the Titans are bracing for a fierce battle as the visitors look to turn their campaign around.