The Gujarat Titans made a major change to their playing XI for the high-pressure Qualifier 1 clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday, dropping left-arm seamer Arshad Khan from the side. Arshad had featured in eight matches this season for GT, but was replaced by Kulwant Khejroliya, who was handed his first game of IPL 2026.

GT captain Shubman Gill confirmed the change at the toss, although he did not elaborate on the reason behind the decision. Gujarat also won the toss and elected to bowl first against RCB in the Qualifier 1 clash at Dharamsala.

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The change perhaps was made keeping Arshad’s lengths in mind. Arshad’s slingy action and pace makes him more susceptible to big shots, and in a ground like Dharamsala, where the ball travels a little further, that can quickly go wrong for GT.

Arshad was replaced by Khejroliya, who last played in 2025 for the GT side, and was not even picked in the auction this year. Khejroliya was named this year as a replacement signing for Prithvi Raj Yarra.

Meanwhile, RCB were without the services of Phil Salt for the game. Salt, who returned from England are taking a short break due to his finger injury, was not fit for selection today.

“Salt is fit. He is under observation from the doctor. He has been participating in a few drills but we haven’t decided on our playing eleven yet. We will look at the wicket and decide,” RCB captain Patidar had said about the player ahead of the game.

In place of Salt, RCB stuck with Venkatesh Iyer, who has been in form while opening for the franchise.

RCB also brought in Jacob Duffy into the playing XI. He will be aiding Josh Hazlewood and Bbhuvneshwar Kumar in the fast bowling line-up.

RCB PLAYING XI:

Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar

Impact Subs: Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox

GT PLAYING XI:

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Impact Subs: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Sai Kishore

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Source: India Today