![Gujarat Titans IPL team [Source: AP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1775314249343_GujaratTitansIPLteam.jpg?type=hq)
Gujarat Titans IPL team [Source: AP]
Kumar Kushagra, the IPL 2025 find of the Gujarat Titans, has been a major discovery for the franchise, given his recent form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2025. The wicketkeeper-batter, who is now a primary batting option for the Gujarat Titans, was retained by the franchise in IPL 2026 for 65 lakh.
Being a leading Jharkhand batter in domestic cricket, he has been one of the most promising stars in the league. Notably, Kumar Kushagra has received his maiden call-up in IPL 2026 in place of Shubman Gill on April 4 against the Rajasthan Royals, where he intends to prove his worth with the bat.
Who Is GT Batter Kumar Kushagra?
Born on October 23, 2004, in Bokaro, Jharkhand, Kushagra started his cricketing interest early in his career. His father, Shashikant Kushagra, was one of his best motivators, who woke him up at 5:30 AM for practice drills at school.
Along with academic training, too, with hard work and toil, Kushagra joined the 2020 Under-19 World Cup squad at just 15 years old. In March 2022, during his debut Ranji Trophy season, he scored 266 against Nagaland.
At 17 years and 141 days, became the youngest player to score 250-plus in a first-class innings. However, this form didn't stop and continued in the recently concluded SMAT too.
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Kumar Kushagra’s Heroic Chase Against Punjab in SMAT 2025
In the 115th T20 game between Jharkhand and Punjab, Kushagra played a mammoth knock of 42-ball 86 that helped the team chase down a solid total of 236 runs made by Punjab.
Coming into the chase, Ishan Kishan gave Jharkhand a solid start with his 23-ball 47 at a strike rate of 204.35. However, he fell early in the seventh over. Before him, opener Virat Singh was toppled in the third over, where Kushagra entered to pair up with Ishan Kishan.
With Kishan, Kushagra paired for a 29-ball 60 before the skipper departed for the pavilion. Then came Robin Minz, Anukul Roy, and Pankaj Kumar, alongside whom he kept consistently making runs.
Kumar Steers Jharkhand’s Chase Alone
Kumar scored a 42-ball 86 with four sixes and eight boundaries to his name while striking at 204.76, underlining his ability to steer a game under pressure. After Jharkhand was reeling at 100 for 3 at the end of 9 overs, 136 runs were more needed with 3 wickets down.
In that crucial situation, Kumar Kushagra managed to pair up with small, decent, and massive partnerships with Minz, Anukul Roy, and Pankaj Kumar respectively, while keeping up the strike rate at an all-time high to play the match-winning innings. He saw Jharkhand win the game by 6 wickets and with 11 deliveries to spare.
Kumar Kushagra To Fully Utilise IPL 2026 Debut
On April 4, when Ahmedabad hosted Rajasthan Royals for their IPL home game, Shubman Gill, the skipper, missed out on the game due to a muscle spasm. However, in his place, Kushagra has been called in.
Kushagra is a middle-order batter who finds himself comfortable punishing in the middle overs. However, in the absence of Shubman Gill, he is likely to open alongside Sai Sudharsan, while the keeping gloves will stay with Jos Buttler.
Alongside Kushagra, Sai Sudharsan, and Buttler, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, and Rahul Tewatia will be in charge of chasing the total set by the Rajasthan Royals. As of now, it will be a solid option for Kushagra to prove his worth, who has scored only 3 runs in IPL so far from his four appearances.
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