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Sai Sudharsan ruled out - (Source: AFP)
On Friday, January 2, the Gujarat Titans dealt a heavy blow as their star opener Sai Sudharsan checked in at the CoE following a rib injury. The southpaw, who was playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Tamil Nadu, suffered a fractured rib and is reported to be out for long time.
A report from Kushan Sarkar mentioned that Sai will be out for a significant amount of time, potentially hampering his IPL participation as well. Now, with the possibility of missing the cash-studded league, this article will shed light on Sai’s replacements for IPL 2026.
Interestingly, GT can choose from the list of 369 players shortlisted for IPL 2026 mini-auction, and since they have just seven overseas players in the squad, the Titans can rope in an overseas star as a replacement.
1. Devon Conway
Devon Conway entered the IPL 2026 with a base price of 2 crores, but failed to find any interest from any of the ten franchises. The southpaw made his IPL debut in 2022 and was part of CSK for four seasons. However, he struggled for runs in IPL 2025 and amssed just 156 runs in six innings, averaging 26.00.
In a shocking development, since the day of IPL auction, Conway has been in form as he slammed a double hundred and a century against West Indies at home and then stunned the viewers with his power-hitting in SA20 4.
Conway started SA20 new season with a bang and scored a fifty. He has 111 runs in four innings, averaging 37.00 and a strike-rate of 173.44. Therefore, Gujarat Titans can look to bring in Conway, who is also a southpaw and bring the balance to the team.
2. Jamie Smith
One of the most shocking names that went unsold in IPL auction is England's Jamie Smith. The right-handed England batter had a shocking Ashes and amassed just 139 runs in eight innings. However, if we look at his T20I stats, then he amassed 203 runs in seven innings and averaged 29.00. Further, he maintained a strike-rate of 170.59.
Even during India's Test visit to England, Smith was the stand-out performer and scored 434 runs in nine innings, averaging 62.00. Therefore, Gujarat Titans should go after the 25-year-old as a potential replacement for Sai Sudharsan.
3. Mayank Agarwal
Gujarat Titans can also look at Indian options and Mayank Agarwal is one good option. Narendra Modi Stadium is a place for batters who can time the ball rather than out and out power-hitters. Further, Ashish Nehra has a knack of preferring players who are technically sound and Agarwal fits the bill.
Talking about recent form, Agarwal has scored 245 runs in four innings, averaging 61.25. He slammed a century and two fifty-plus scores.
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