IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans sign Connor Esterhuizen as Tom Banton's injury replacement

Gujarat Titans (GT) have signed a replacement for the injured Tom Banton for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026). Banton was bought for Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2026 mini auction but has been ruled out of the season due to a finger injury.

It was a return after four years to the IPL after four years, as he had earlier played two matches for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2021. In his place, GT have signed South Africa’s Connor Esterhuizen as a replacement for Rs 75 lakh. Esterhuizen recently made his international debut against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series. 

He had an impressive debut, playing a key role in guiding South Africa to a 3-2 victory in the series, finishing as the highest run scorer of the rubber.

Esterhuizen finished with 200 runs in five matches, at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 145.98. He scored a breathtaking 75 off 33 balls in the series-deciding fifth T20I, helping South Africa post a massive score of 187/4 and eventually set up a 33-run victory to seal the series.

Esterhuizen has also plied his trade for Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town in SA20 and has also played four games for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20.

GT placed sixth on points table

In his T20 career,  the 24-year-old has scored 926 runs at an average of 28.93 and a strike rate of 129.87 with five fifties to his name. It will be the first-ever stint for Esterhuizen in the Indian Premier League.

Meanwhile, Gujarat are placed sixth on the points table with two wins from four matches, having two points to their name. They will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on their home ground the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Friday, April 17.