Shubman Gill and GT players celebrating a wicket vs RR (Source: AP Photos)
When you enter as a teacher in a classroom, you, despite being a non-biased person, categorise or judge a few selected students. Some would be attentive and your favourite, while a few would be notorious or less concerned about what you think or tell the class.
Of course, a smile comes out of your mouth when your favourite students shine, but when you see someone puts in the hard yards to make a name for oneself, it becomes the topic of discussion out of nowhere.
Now, if you look at the IPL, there are a few teams who are referred as the crowd pullers due to their worldwide popularity. Some of them have earned the tag with continuous success, while others have kept on their presence for having larger-than-life superstars.
However, Gujarat Titans, a franchise who made their debut three years ago, do not go into that list. Yet they prosper more than any other in IPL 2025, and captain Shubman Gill has turned into their knight in shining armour.
4 Wins In 5 Matches! The Titans Advance Against All Odds
Yes, we still have two third of the IPL 2025 left. Tables can turn anytime, and there might be new leaders bossing the league in the coming days or so. Nevertheless, Shubman Gill and his boys have already announced their arrivals as serious title contenders this time around, and their latest thrashing against Rajasthan Royals is nothing but a stern warning to all nine competitors.
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To be honest, the Titans might be called as one of the strongest squads on paper this season, but they are yet to field a lineup who could bring fear to the opposition. Despite Kagiso Rabada’s shocking departure, they have been keeping on using three overseas options, with the likes of Glenn Phillips and Gerald Coetzee warming the bench.
Yet the results are coming in their favour, which means they exactly know what they are doing, and the responsibilities have been rightly assigned to the members who are taking the field week in and week out.
Rashid Khan, Re-Work In Progress!
To make the matters worse for the opponents, Rashid Khan is yet to live up to his lofty standards in IPL 2025. If he gets his rhythm right, particularly when the business end will approach, one can assume how this force will look like when they will be on a mission to hunt each and every opposition.
Rashid Khan claimed 2/37 vs RR (Source: AP Photos)
In fact, Rashid’s return in form could help the Titans pull off an exactly similar performance to KKR in IPL 2024. Remember, their gun bowler Mitchell Starc was in the news throughout the league phase due to sub-par performances one after another. Yet, when it mattered the most in the playoffs, he shut down the critics with all his class.
Rashid, still the most reliable and hot prospect for any captain in T20s when it comes to requiring important breakthroughs, has all the ingredients to complete a redemption, and who knows, the destiny has already been written.
Hardik Pandya Then, Shubman Gill Now?
The Titans could not have asked for a better debut, with Hardik Pandya, now Mumbai Indians captain, powering them to the prestigious trophy back in 2022. Back then, the Titans topped the table as well, having won 10 out of 14 matches.
In fact, the Titans had won four out of their first five matches in IPL 2022, exactly the same number of victories they have enjoyed so far this season. If Gill and his boys can deliver what Hardik and Co accomplished a few years ago, that can be nothing but a statement for others that they are not here for messing around. Gujarat Titans mean business.
Projection Is Easy, Action Isn't!
Of course, there is another side of the coin. One bad night could bring thousands of arguments and the stubbornness about the calls which have helped them to enjoy early success.
Will they change when things go south? Will they shift the direction when everyone is pointing fingers on their selections? Can they find the right balance in order to claim the elusive title twice in four years? The journey is not going to be an easy one. Let us see what the future holds.
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