3 GT Players Who Could Play Their First Match After IPL 2025 Restart

Debashis Sarangi

Buttler, Rabada might miss the remainder of IPL 2025 [Source: @paras_srk, @sarcastic_us/X]Buttler, Rabada might miss the remainder of IPL 2025 [Source: @paras_srk, @sarcastic_us/X]

Gujarat Titans will restart their IPL 2025 campaign with a high-voltage clash against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 18. The IPL 2025, which was suspended due to the India-Pakistan conflict, is all set to resume on May 17, with KKR taking on RCB. 

However, with large doubts looming over several overseas players' IPL 2025 return, some cricketers could play their first game in the tournament, as mentioned below. 

1. Anuj Rawat 

  • Swashbuckling Delhi batter Anuj Rawat shifted his base from RCB, as Gujarat Titans bagged him for his base price of INR 30 lakhs in last year's mega auction. 
  • Despite having a stellar DPL season, Rawat didn't manage to find a place in GT's playing XI, with Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler forming a formidable top order. 
  • However, as Jos Buttler might not be available for the remaining games due to national commitment, GT could rope in Anuj Rawat as his replacement in their batting order. Rawat is a clean striker of the ball and slammed 192 runs at an average of 48 and a blistering strike rate of 141.18 in eight innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. 

2. Dasun Shanaka

  • Explosive West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford played a pivotal role for GT in IPL 2025. In eight innings, Rutherford hammered 229 runs at an average of 38.17 and a strike rate of 159.03. 
  • However, the left-handed batter might miss some part of the IPL 2025 due to the upcoming ODI series against England. In such a scenario, GT might replace him with former Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka in their playing XI. 
  • Hailed for his scintillating stroke play, Shanaka is one of the fearsome hitters, having amassed 4449 T20 runs in 222 innings at a strike rate of 142.45. Besides ensuring fitting finishes for GT, Shanaka can be handy with his medium pace bowling in the middle overs. 

3. Mahipal Lomror

  • Mahipal Lomror is a talented young batter, who can take the opponents by surprise with his spin-hitting. The left-handed batter was a part of RCB before joining GT for a price of INR 1.70 crores. 
  • Lomror has played 40 IPL matches, scoring 527 runs at a strike rate of 141.29. If Sherfane Rutherford doesn't play the remaining IPL matches, GT can bring Lomror to ensure left-right balance in their middle order. 
  • Lomror is a natural number four batter and his inclusion will allow the Titans to use the likes of Shahrukh Khan, Dasun Shanaka and Rahul Tewatia as pure finishers in their upcoming fixtures. 

P.S: If GT rope in Kusal Mendis as a temporary replacement for Buttler, we might see the Sri Lankan getting preferred over Anuj Rawat as GT's number three batter.