NEW DELHI: A worrying moment for Kolkata Knight Riders during their IPL 2026 meeting with Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens turned into a social-media talking point within minutes, as fans began asking who Tejasvi Singh Dahiya is. The question came after KKR’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi suffered an injury and had to be substituted under concussion protocols, with Dahiya brought in to replace him during the match.
The incident unfolded in the 11th over. Raghuvanshi hurried in and extended fully in an attempt to take a catch, but in the chase for the ball he collided with Varun Chakravarthy. He appeared to have hurt his finger, and his body language suggested discomfort almost immediately. KKR’s physio then took him off the field, and the team moved quickly to implement the concussion substitute rule.
Tejasvi Singh Dahiya first appeared as KKR’s substitute wicketkeeper before being named the official concussion replacement for Raghuvanshi during KKR’s chase. That swift transition added to the curiosity surrounding Dahiya, particularly among viewers who had not followed him closely prior to this season.
Who is Tejasvi Singh Dahiya?
Dahiya, a 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi, earned his opportunity after a strong run in the Delhi Premier League. His performances there helped him secure an IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders, propelling a player who was relatively unknown to a wider IPL audience.
Heading into the IPL 2026 auction, Dahiya had a base price of Rs 30 lakh. Kolkata Knight Riders ultimately acquired him for Rs 3 crore, a deal that reflected how high his stock had risen. KKR had to battle for his signature, holding off interest from Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the bidding.
His surge was driven by a standout Delhi Premier League season in which he accumulated 339 runs at an average of 48.43. He also struck at a strike rate of 190.45, making his innings both steady and explosive. Dahiya finished the tournament with 29 sixes and four half-centuries, numbers that ensured IPL scouts and franchise executives kept taking note.
What made his rise more striking was the contrast with the year before. Dahiya had gone unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, but he reversed that outcome within a year through consistent domestic displays. From being overlooked at the auction table to landing a Rs 3 crore contract, his turnaround has become one of the memorable background stories of IPL 2026.
There is also a personal angle to his journey. Dahiya comes from an academic family, with both parents working as mathematics and economics teachers. That foundation, combined with his improvement on the domestic circuit, has helped shape a rise that now comes to the forefront whenever he steps onto the big stage.
As KKR manage Raghuvanshi’s fitness and continue their campaign, Dahiya’s early involvement in the match has only intensified the spotlight on him—especially after the concussion replacement moment at Eden Gardens. For fans keeping track of every development, stay tuned for the latest IPL updates and match coverage, including live scores, the IPL schedule, points table movements, and the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
