GT vs RR, IPL 2025: Why is Wanindu Hasaranga Not Playing For Rajasthan Royals Against Gujarat Titans?

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After opening the campaign with two successive defeats, Rajasthan Royals (RR) had found their best combination with back-to-back wins in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, but the inaugural champions were forced into chaning their winning combo on Wednesday (April 9).

Sanju Samson's Royals will be without the services of their star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga when they face Gujarat Titans in match 23 of IPL 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Although he has not dominated the wickets charts this season, Hasaranga had made some useful contributions in the Royals' two wins over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their recent two outings.

Having missed the season opener, Hasaranga, who was a Rs 5.25 Crore pick by RR at the IPL Mega Auction, forged a good partnership with his compatriot and fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana as RR got back to winning ways.

In his debut for RR, Hasaranga finished with figures of 1 for 34 in the defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). But, he claimed figures of 4 for 35 and 1 for 36 respectively in the team's wins against CSK and PBKS.

RR skipper Samson, however, delivered a surprise news after he won the toss and elected to field against Shubman Gill's in-form Gujarat Titans side, who are heading into the match on a three-match winning streak. So, why is Hasaranga not playing? And who is replacing him in the RR XI?

Why is Wanindu Hasaranga not playing for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans?

The Sri Lankan leg spinner is missing the GT vs RR match due to personal reasons, as revealed by the Royals captain at the toss. Replacing him will be Afghanistan's left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Here is what the RR skipper said at the toss, "We would like to bowl here first because of the conditions. There is going to be dew here. Each and every game in the IPL is important, we are grateful of the last two games and take the momentum forward.

"It is great to be back. It is a very new team, new guys in the squad, we retained six guys but it is still a new team, we took time to gel together and know our roles. The wicket looks really good and will stay true. Hasaranga misses out due to personal reasons Farooqi comes in."

Rajasthan Royals Playing 11 vs Gujarat Titans

RR XI vs GT: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (captain/wicketkeeper), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande.

• RR Impact Substitute Bench: Kunal Singh Rathore, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal.