GT’s Auction Strategy: It’s surprising that a team featuring batters like Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan still needs another batter. All three scored 500+ runs last season, marking the first time in IPL history that a team’s top three batters achieved this together.
But that’s exactly where the problem lies – the middle order rarely contributed, and when it did, the runs were simply not enough.
Middle Order Struggles Cost GT
Washington Sundar played a few good knocks. Shafique Rutherford, who has now moved to the Mumbai Indians, also chipped in with some important runs. But Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia did not deliver consistently, creating a major gap after the top three.
GT clearly needs a reliable middle-order battters who can absorb pressure when the top order fails. Sundar is a partial option, Rutherford is gone, and GT must now look for a stronger, more dependable player.
Bowling Is Strong, But Not Perfect
On paper, Gujarat Titans’ bowling looks solid with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar. However, the same strong bowling unit conceded 200+ runs in each of their last three matches. So, while the attack has quality, consistency remains a concern.
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Who Should GT Release?
Kagiso Rabada
Rabada missed a major chunk of last season, and when he returned, he leaked runs. But GT won’t release someone of his calibre. Rabada stays.
Kulwant Khejroliya (Rs 2.4 crore)
GT might consider releasing him to free up some purse.
Shahrukh Khan & Rahul Tewatia (Rs 4 crore each)
Both have been with GT since the beginning. The big question is Should GT let them go? Releasing both opens up Rs 8 crore, and releasing a few uncapped players could push the total release purse to Rs 10–12 crore.
The Purse Problem
GT needs a solid middle-order batters, a backup spinner for Rashid and Washington and possibly, an additional bowler for depth. But with limited releases, GT won’t have a massive purse. That’s the biggest concern for the Gujarat Titans – they need to fill key roles without having enough money to spend.
Final Take
GT’s auction strategy will be fascinating to watch. They have a strong core, but specific gaps must be filled. With limited funds and limited release options, GT must plan sharply to avoid repeating last season’s middle-order collapse.
