Gujarat Titans have made a change to their squad for IPL 2026. The team has signed Connor Esterhuizen as a replacement for Tom Banton, who is out of the tournament due to injury. This move comes as GT try to fix their middle-order issues and stay competitive in the league.
Tom Banton Injury Update
Tom Banton, the English wicketkeeper-batter, will miss the rest of IPL 2026 because of a finger injury. The injury reportedly happened during practice.
Banton had not played any match this season. Gujarat Titans were already using Glenn Phillips in the middle order as their fourth overseas player.
Here is a quick look at Banton’s situation:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Tom Banton |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Injury | Finger Injury |
| IPL 2026 Status | Ruled Out |
| Auction Price | INR 2 Crore |
Banton now becomes one of several England players to miss IPL 2026 due to injury.
England Players Ruled Out of IPL 2026
Injuries have affected multiple English players this season. Here’s the list:
| Player | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Banton | Gujarat Titans | Injury |
| Sam Curran | Rajasthan Royals | Injury |
| Brydon Carse | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Injury |
| David Payne | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Injury |
Who is Connor Esterhuizen?
Connor Esterhuizen is a 24-year-old batter from Johannesburg, South Africa. He plays domestic cricket for the Lions and has also featured in leagues like SA20 and ILT20.
Also See : Is Jasprit Bumrah Fully Fit or Struggling in IPL 2026? MI’s Biggest Concern Explained
He recently made his international debut for South Africa and impressed with his performances.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Connor Esterhuizen |
| Age | 24 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Domestic Team | Lions |
| Playing Role | Batter |
| Replacement Price | INR 75 Lakh |
Esterhuizen’s Recent Form
Esterhuizen comes into IPL 2026 with strong recent performances. He played a five-match T20I series where he stood out as the top performer.
| Series | Matches | Runs | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20I Series | 5 | 200 Runs | Player of the Series |
He scored double the runs of the next highest scorer in that series, showing his ability to perform under pressure.
What This Means for Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans had some concerns about their middle-order batting even before the season started. Banton’s injury forced the team to act quickly.
By signing Esterhuizen, GT are adding a fresh option who is in good form. His ability to handle pressure and score runs in the middle overs could help the team improve their batting balance.
This could also be a big opportunity for Esterhuizen. If he gets a chance in the playing XI, it may become his IPL debut. A good performance here can boost his career at the international level as well.
GT will now be hoping that this change helps them find stability in the middle order and finish the season strongly.
