Rajasthan Royals, the winners of the inaugural IPL, have moved to strengthen their squad by bringing in Punjab’s left-arm spinner Emanjot Chahal. The franchise’s decision follows the injury of wicketkeeper-batter Ravi Singh, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026 because of a hamstring problem. The development was communicated in an official statement on Saturday, with the team confirming that Ravi’s injury occurred while he was fielding during Rajasthan’s match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17.
In the statement, Rajasthan Royals outlined the replacement move, naming Emanjot Chahal as the player who will step in for Ravi Singh. Emanjot, who is 21 years old and hails from Patiala, has previously represented Punjab in domestic cricket. His first-class record includes a top score of 83, and his bowling has also stood out, with 11 wickets coming across three matches through his left-arm spin. For this IPL opportunity, the Royals have secured his services for a fee of INR 30 lakh.
While the squad update is a timely one, attention will quickly shift back to Rajasthan’s immediate league commitments. The Royals are set to play five-time champions Mumbai Indians in their final league-stage encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Their progress to the knockout stage is not guaranteed, with playoff qualification hanging on a narrow margin, meaning the result of this game will be pivotal.
If Rajasthan win against Mumbai, they will clinch a place in the Eliminator and do so as the fourth-ranked team in the points table, lining up a knockout tie against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, a loss could complicate matters, forcing Rajasthan to rely on how other matches unfold across the remaining fixtures.
For the Royals to advance with defeat, they will need specific outcomes elsewhere: Punjab Kings must be beaten by Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, and Kolkata Knight Riders are required to lose to Delhi Capitals on Sunday evening. Since KKR’s match is scheduled after Rajasthan’s, the situation gives the Royals an incentive to avoid scenarios that depend on multiple permutations, and instead focus purely on beating Mumbai Indians to protect their current position.
Rajasthan will also be mindful of their earlier meeting with Mumbai this season. In a rain-affected match in Guwahati, the Royals managed to overcome the five-time champions by 27 runs in a curtailed contest. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a key role in that win, finishing unbeaten on 77.
