The Gujarat Titans missed the playoffs for the first time in 2024, despite winning the IPL and making it to the final in its first two years. With five victories, seven losses, and two washouts in their last two games, they finished eighth in the league.
The Titans have a brand-new pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj (INR 12.25 crore), Kagiso Rabada (INR 10.75 crore), and Prasidh Krishna (INR 9.5 crore) following the rebuild at the mega auction. Gerald Coetzee, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, and left-armers Kulwant Khejroliya and Arshad Khan provide them with a wealth of fast-bowling depth as well.
With Jos Buttler, who was purchased for INR 15.75 crore, and captain Shubman Gill, the Titans are poised to start their batting with an intriguing new combo. Despite being England’s top scorer in the T20I series and the Champions Trophy, Buttler had a difficult time in India earlier this year. He was forced to resign as his team’s limited-overs captain after they lost in the group stage. Although Buttler failed to reach 400 runs in 2023 and 2024 after scoring 863 in the IPL 2022, his century at Eden Gardens last year to chase down 224 against KKR stands as one of the league’s most iconic innings.
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade, who was a member of the Titans until last year, has joined Ashish Nehra’s coaching staff as an assistant coach.
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Gill appeared to be guaranteed a spot in India’s future T20I squad after scoring 890 runs in the 2023 Indian Premier League. However, he has been driven to the sidelines due to a cooling off of his form and the emergence of opponents. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have surpassed Gill in the line even after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli withdrew from the format. Gill was not a member of the team that won the T20 World Cup 2024, where Rohit Sharma and Kohli had opened for India. To get back into India’s T20 plans, he needs another thrilling IPL.
The Titans’ batting lineup lacks shown IPL experience, despite having a strong top three in Gill, Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan, as well as a finisher in Rahul Tewatia. Sherfane Rutherford and Glenn Phillips, who have each played ten and eight IPL games, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, and Mahipal Lomror are the choices for the middle and lower order. The Titans might end up being overly top heavy this season unless some of these hitters improve on their previous performance.
The Gujarat Titans will have a totally healthy roster for the 2025 Indian Premier League. Their top run scorer from the previous season, Sudharsan, is now healthy after undergoing surgery in December to repair a sports hernia. Shahrukh, who missed the majority of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the second round of the Ranji Trophy due to injury, has also fully recovered.
