Gujarat Titans Confirm Strong Core for IPL 2026 with Gill Leading Charge

Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed their squad retentions for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, prioritising continuity with a robust core of 20 players while releasing five to optimise their auction strategy following a third-place finish in 2025. Led by captain Shubman Gill, who guided the side to the playoffs for the third time in four years before an Eliminator exit against the Mumbai Indians, the franchise retained key architects of their high-scoring ethos, including opener Sai Sudharsan and pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj.

This non-mega auction year allows unlimited retentions within the INR 120 crore purse, enabling GT to preserve their balanced attack—bolstered by Rashid Khan's spin wizardry and Kagiso Rabada's express pace—while addressing minor gaps in depth. Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki emphasised the blend of "experience, potential, and character" in the group, signalling ambitions to reclaim the 2022 title glory amid a competitive landscape reshaped by trades like Sherfane Rutherford's move to the Mumbai Indians.

The retained roster features a star-studded lineup blending Indian stalwarts and international firepower: Shubman Gill (c, INR 16.50 crore), Rashid Khan (vc, INR 18 crore), Sai Sudharsan (INR 8.50 crore), Jos Buttler (INR 15.75 crore), Rahul Tewatia (INR 4 crore), Shahrukh Khan (INR 4 crore), Washington Sundar (INR 3.20 crore), Glenn Phillips (INR 2 crore), Nishant Sindhu (INR 30 lakh), Sai Kishore (INR 2 crore), Jayant Yadav (INR 75 lakh), Mohammed Siraj (INR 12.25 crore), Kagiso Rabada (INR 10.75 crore), Prasidh Krishna (INR 9.50 crore), Ishant Sharma (INR 75 lakh), Manav Suthar (INR 30 lakh), Arshad Khan (INR 1.30 crore), Gurnoor Brar (INR 1.30 crore), Kumar Kushagra (INR 65 lakh), and Anuj Rawat (INR 30 lakh).

This selection maintains GT's aggressive batting blueprint, with Buttler and Gill anchoring the top order, while the bowling unit—featuring Siraj's swing, Rabada's bounce, and Khan's guile—promises versatility across conditions at Narendra Modi Stadium. Emerging talents like Sindhu and Suthar underscore GT's youth investment, complementing veterans like Tewatia for middle-order stability.

On the release front, GT parted ways with Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Dasun Shanaka, Gerald Coetzee, and Kulwant Khejroliya, whose combined contributions in 2025 fell short of expectations amid the team's playoff push—Coetzee's injury-hit campaign yielding just 12 wickets at an economy over 9, for instance. The trade of West Indian all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians for his INR 2.6 crore fee further streamlines the squad, freeing overseas slots without purse deduction.

Head coach Ashish Nehra lauded the released players' efforts but highlighted the need for "balance and clarity", noting these moves create opportunities for fresh infusions in finishing roles and backup spin. With no major overhauls required after a solid 9-5 league stage, GT's strategy reflects confidence in their ecosystem, honed since their debut triumph under Hardik Pandya.

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Heading into the December 16 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi with INR 12.9 crore remaining and five slots to fill—including four overseas—GT holds ample flexibility to target niche reinforcements like a death-over specialist or utility batsman. This purse, boosted by releases totalling around INR 5 crore in recouped salaries, positions them advantageously against purse-heavy rivals like Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 64.3 crore).

Amid IPL-wide upheaval—such as Chennai Super Kings' INR 43.4 crore war chest post-Jadeja's trade—GT's measured approach aims to sustain their top-order dominance, which amassed over 2,000 runs in 2025, while fortifying a bowling attack that conceded under 8 runs per over at home. As the 74-match extravaganza looms, Gill's Titans eye a deeper playoff run, leveraging their retained firepower to navigate the league's evolving dynamics.

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