The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction is now over, and the focus shifts towards the upcoming season as all ten sides have assembled strong squads and are ready to win the title. The loopholes from previous seasons have been rectified by most teams, except for one - the Gujarat Titans.
The Titans had a purse of 12.90 crore, and they needed a plethora of new players in the squad. The team bought 5 players in the IPL mini auction and here’s how the team could lineup for the IPL 2026 season.
GT IPL 2026 retention list
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav.
GT IPL 2026 auction buys
Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood.
Here is the complete list of GT players for the IPL 2026 season and let us now analyse their strongest XI for the next season.
GT IPL 2026 squad analysis
Best top 3 of IPL in Gill-Sudharsan-Buttler?
In captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, the Gujarat Titans have a batting run-machine, and they perhaps have the best top 3 in the IPL at the moment. The trio scored a plethora of runs in the IPL 2025 campaign and it was because of them that the reached the knockouts.
Criterion
Shubman Gill
Sai Sudharsan
Jos Buttler
Matches
15
15
14
Runs
650
759
538
Strike rate
155.88
156.17
163.03
As the stats say, the trio performed exceedingly well, and together, they amassed 1,947 runs as GT reached the playoffs, but were eliminated.
Weakest middle and lower in the league - Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Washington Sundar
This is where GT’s problem starts; unlike other IPL sides, the Titans have a weakened middle-order, an area the team failed to address in the mini auction 2026. With the departure of Sherfane Rutherford, the Titans are likely to slot in Glenn Phillips at number 4, as they lack a power-hitter and Phillips could be the answer to their biggest problem.
Despite not doing much for the Titans, the management has shown trust in Shahrukh Khan and he will slot in at number 5, and Washington Sundar could be used as a floater depending upon the situation. The management trusted him last season and Sundar had a decent season with the bat.
Criterion
Data
Matches
6
Runs
133
Strike rate
166.25
(Sundar in IPL 2025)
Last season, he was primarily used as a floater as he often batted at number 4, and Sundar’s hitting game improved as the Tamil Nadu player had a strike rate of 166.25.
Also, GT splashed a whopping 7 crore to acquire the services of Jason Holder, the former LSG player, and his numbers in T20s state that GT perhaps had an overpriced deal. His IPL strike rate is just 121.15, and GT have perhaps made a big gamble on him.
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
In Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore, GT have two potent spinners in their lineup and the opposition batters need to be wary of them. Rashid’s output has decreased in the last two seasons, but the Afghan spinner still holds a fear factor in the opposition’s mind.
With Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj as the leaders of the pace attack, GT have the bowling department sorted. In fact, Prasidh was the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025 season.
Hence, in Rashid, Sai Kishore, Siraj and Prasidh, GT has plethora of talent and they have a solid bowling unit.
GT's strongest XI for IPL 2026 season
Shubman Gill B Sai Sudharsan Jos Buttler ✈️ Glenn Phillips ✈️ Shahrukh Khan Jason Holder ✈️ Washington Sundar (floater) Rashid Khan ✈️ Mohammed Siraj Prasidh Krishna R Sai Kishore
Impact players: Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Kumar Kushagra
![GT predicted XI [Source: AFP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1766143535265_GTpredictedXI.jpg?type=hq)
GT predicted XI [Source: AFP Photo].jpg)
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