After an intense group stage, the Indian Premier League 2026 playoffs are underway, with four teams fighting for the coveted trophy. Matches at this stage of the tournament often require bold decisions, but on May 26, Gujarat Titans’ gamble of including Kulwant Khejroliya in the playing XI against Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s high-flying batting unit did not bear fruit as the Shubman Gill-led side suffered a resounding 92-run defeat in Qualifier 1 at the iconic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
GT, who have produced one of the best bowling units this season with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada leading the attack, failed to deliver on the biggest occasion as RCB posted a mammoth 254 after an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls from captain Rajat Patidar. The RCB captain once again stepped up under pressure and, along with Krunal Pandya, scored 28 runs in a match-clinching over from Khejroliya, which became the second most expensive over in IPL playoff history.
Many fans and pundits, in particular, highlighted this, which completely diverted GT’s momentum and helped RCB book their place in a second consecutive IPL final, to be played on May 31. Former Indian cricketer and expert commentator Aakash Chopra criticized the GT management’s decision to include Khejroliya as the 34-year-old made his first appearance of the season in such a crucial clash.
“The decision to play Kulwant Khejroliya was not a good one because you played him his first match of the entire tournament. He bowled a good first over but lost 28 runs in his second over. He couldn’t bowl,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Chopra further questioned the controversial selection that day, especially considering that experienced IPL campaigner Ishant Sharma was sitting on the bench if regular starter Arshad Khan was unavailable due to injury. Not just Ishant, GT also possesses a strong mix of emerging talent and experienced bowlers in its 2026 squad, including Ashok Sharma and Gurnoor Brar, who recently earned their first Test call-up for India, but neither got a chance to showcase their skills in what was expected to be a high-octane clash on paper, only for it to turn completely one-sided.
“So you think you could have played Ashok Sharma. You didn’t play Arshad Khan. Maybe he was injured, I don’t know. If you were looking for someone, you could have brought Ishant Sharma too, but you chose Kulwant Khejroliya. They didn’t give him the new ball. It just didn’t work out,” Chopra added.
Chopra’s analysis carries weight as Khejroliya, known for his skills with the new ball, bowled just 2 overs on the day, with the pacer given the responsibility of taking over RCB’s destructive middle order later in the innings. At the same time, Siraj and Rabada continued as the frontline bowlers. As Chopra highlighted, with Arshad out of the squad and the team looking for an experienced player, Ishant’s first appearance of the season at this stage of the tournament would certainly have stood out. The 37-year-old Indian pacer brings immense experience of 16 IPL seasons, having played in the inaugural season of 2008 and picked up 96 wickets in 117 appearances with an economy of around 8.40.
These are the decisions that often define a franchise’s season and become the fine margins between success and failure at the highest level. GT will now get a second chance in Qualifier 2 to rectify their mistakes and book a spot in the 2026 finals, where they will face the winner of the Playoff between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
