IPL 2026: Who is Connor Esterhuizen? Gujarat Titans’ new injury replacement

When the Gujarat Titans (GT) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with two successive defeats against the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, it felt like their combination won’t work for this event, and this could turn out to be a long edition for the 2022 champions. 

But the Shubman Gill-led side made an impressive comeback in the competition with two consecutive wins as they got the better of the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Lucknow Super Giants. Now, they prepare themselves for the hat-tricks of wins against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Connor Esterhuizen’s background and rise in South African cricket

GT has signed the South African wicket-keeper batter, Connor Esterhuizen, as a replacement for England wicket-keeper batter, Tom Banton, who has been ruled out of the competition with a finger injury. Banton was signed by the franchise for a base price of INR 2 crore, but didn’t feature in a single contest.

Esterhuizen came into the side for a base price of INR 75 lakh. The 24-year-old smashed 200 runs in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 145.98, with a couple of half-centuries, and earned two Player of the Match awards. He was also the Player of the Series.

He was born in Johannesburg and attended the prestigious St John’s College, where he excelled in cricket. He later represented the Wits University First XI, having scored heavily before joining the Lions Academy.

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Known for his transition from the middle-order batter to the top-order, he focuses on decision-making and overcoming failures.  

Impressive T20I debut series puts him on global radar

Apart from the impressive debut series in New Zealand during the shortest format, Esterhuizen has nailed 926 runs in 39 innings at an average of 28.93 and a strike rate of 129.87, with the help of five half-centuries at the best score of 75 runs.

In the recent season of the SA20 during the 2025/26 season, featuring for the Pretoria Capitals, the right-handed batter clubbed 166 runs in 11 innings at an average of 15.09 and a strike rate of 105.73, with the help of one fifty.

His strong edition of the competition came in 2024/25 for the Mi Cape Town when he dashed 138 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 133.98, with the help of one fifty.

Why GT signed Esterhuizen as replacement for Tom Banton

GT did not have any doubt keeping Jos Buttler as their first-choice top-order overseas batter. And the veteran has stood up with 176 runs in four innings at a strike rate of nearly 160 with two half-centuries. They kept Banton as the potential injury replacement of Buttler.

Now, in Banton’s injury, they needed a like-for-like replacement, for which they decided to bring Esterhuizen into the squad. They already have the option of including Jason Holder in the eleven if they want.