New Delhi: Gujarat Titans won the Indian Premier League on debut in 2022 now it is time for them to show that they can be consistent title contenders.
Since going all the way four years ago, followed by a runners-up finish in 2023, Gujarat’s fortunes have gone down hill in the last two editions.
They finished eighth in 2024, and last year lost the Eliminator after qualifying for the play-offs.
Having retained 20 players, they had only five slots to fill and not being a team willing to splurge on headline-grabbing buys, they bid for Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Ashok Sharma and Prithviraj Yarra.
Their performance would offer an answer whether placing such confidence in their squad was worth it. India’s Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill will continue to lead the team, flanked by the ideas of coach Ashish Nehra and a bowling attack spearheaded by leg spinner Rashid Khan.
Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan provide firepower at the top of their batting order while India pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna form the core of their Indian seam base.
Holder’s arrival gives them an useful all-round muscle alongosde Washington Sundar while their lowe middle-order batting also has Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan.
GT full squad
Batters: Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Luke Wood, Ishant Sharma, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ashok Sharma, Prithviraj Yarra
Allrounders: Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Mohammad Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder
Likely playing XI (including Impact Sub)
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Overseas players likely to feature in playing XI – Jos Buttler, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada