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Gujarat Titans (Source: AFP)
The Gujarat Titans (GT) had solid run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The Shubman Gill-led team reached the Eliminator last season. Despite missing a top-two finish, the 2022 champions once again showed glimpses of their potential. However, as the focus now shifts to the IPL 2026 auction, GT management will want to work on a few crucial gaps to turn their strong squad into a fully balanced unit.
Based on their 2025 campaign, the three key areas the Gujarat Titans will look to improve are: strengthening the fragile middle order, adding depth to their pace attack, and finding all-rounders to ensure team balance.
Invest in middle-order
- Throughout the IPL 2025 season, GT's batting was heavily dependent on its top three. While Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler consistently delivered, the middle order often collapsed whenever the top order failed. Sudharsan emerged as the team’s standout performer with 759 runs, while skipper Gill added 650 runs, and Buttler contributed 538 runs. It is important to note that 1967 out of 2766 (almost 71 percent) runs were scored by GT top-order batters.
- However, beyond these three, no other batter could make much impact. Players like Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan struggled for consistency, leaving GT exposed in the middle order.
- To address this, GT is expected to rework its middle-order combination ahead of IPL 2026. The team might release a few underperforming players in the mini-auction to free up funds for a reliable foreign finisher and middle-order stabiliser.
Target quality all-rounders
- It is important to mention that GT has been missing a dependable all-rounder who can perform under pressure. Although the top order remains strong, GT’s lower middle order has often failed to convert starts or finish games effectively.
- The franchise needs to target a quality all-rounder, someone who can contribute both with the bat and ball and bring balance to the side.
- The management may consider releasing players who underperformed in 2025 to create space for a player capable of providing match-winning performances. A strong finisher who can handle high-pressure situations will be crucial for GT in IPL 2026.
Inconsistent death-bowling
- Bowling, which was once GT's biggest strength, showed signs of inconsistency last season, especially in the death overs. Despite having top-quality pacers like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Gerald Coetzee, the team leaked runs in crucial moments.
- Taking a look at the stats, GT’s main death bowlers: Siraj, Rabada, Coetzee, Ishant Sharma, and Arshad Khan, conceded 349 runs at an economy rate of 11.51.
| Stats | Value |
| Year | 2025 |
| Innings | 13 |
| Overs | 30.2 |
| Runs | 349 |
| Wickets | 10 |
| Econ | 11.51 |
(GT 's bowling record in death overs excluding Prasidh Krishna)
- Only Prasidh Krishna performed consistently, picking up 25 wickets in 15 matches at an impressive economy rate of 8.27.
| Player Name | Innings | Wickets | Economy |
| Prasidh Krishna | 15 | 25 | 8.27 |
(Prasidh Krishna's record in IPL 2025)
- GT’s bowling unit clearly needs better role definition and possibly another specialist death bowler who can control the flow of runs in the final overs.
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