Never in their short history since 2022 have the Gujarat Titans (GT) looked like a side packed with superstars. Yet, they have qualified three out of four times for IPL playoffs. They might not have household names but found match-winners game by game. The Ashish Nehra-coached side knows how to fight and bring out the best in them.
Last year, they had glaring holes as well. The side was heavily dependent on the top trio of captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. They combined to score 1947 runs of the total 2892 runs, accumulating almost 67.3 per cent of the team’s total runs. Now, GT would love to reduce the dependability. They signed some players that can do the job for them.
Gill to spearhead GT’s batting lineup
The top three of Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler remain intact. They did their job last season and would love to do the same this year as well. Shubman Gill, especially, will be more adamant than ever. He was part of India’s T20 team up until he got dropped before the T20 World Cup 2026. While the decision made sense, Gill was hard done by. He was the vice-captain of the side but was dropped. Now, he has a thing or two to prove as a T20 opener.
As for Sudharsan, he has scored 1793 runs since his IPL debut. Only five batters have scored more than him in the league’s history. Also, Sudharsan is sometimes judged wrongly as a slow batter. However, his strike rate of 145.89 is better than the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the time frame.
Now at three would be Jos Buttler, who is coming off the back of a horrible form. In the entire T20 World Cup 2026, he made 87 runs at 10.88. Buttler looked out of sorts. There were talks that he had played his final game for England at the semi-final against India. However, the English legend has kept his hopes alive and would want to attain his form quickly.
New role for Sundar alongside Phillips?
Here comes the interesting part. Washington Sundar is likely to bat at number four for GT. He is as flexible as anyone. He can open but there’s no room for that. Also, he can finish but his value elevates when Sundar bats higher up the order. He can resurrect an innings in case of early collapse. Even last year he batted at four for GT, scoring 133 runs at a strike rate of 166.25. Alongside him, GT should look to include Glenn Phillips, who is a superhuman. He can bat, bowl, keep wickets. He can bat right-handed or left-handed, fly a plane or bench press 250 kgs!
At GT, he should just look to hit big blows and become a livewire in the field. He had a brief period of brilliance in the T20 World Cup as well and Phillips could be the jigsaw puzzle missing from Gujarat’s middle-order. At No. 6, either Shahrukh Khan or Rahul Tewatia should be slotted in as six-hitters.
Jason Holder over Kagiso Rabada?
Now here comes the interesting part. Gujarat will have to choose between Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada. They can pick both only if the side goes against the inclusion of Phillips. In this XI, we feel Jason Holder is more suited. From outside, this might be an unpopular opinion but the work that Holder has put in truly justifies his place in the side.
He is an all-phase pacer and has multiple variations up his sleeves. Mind, Holder is the highest wicket-taker in T20s since 2025. No one has taken more wickets than his 111, which he has taken at a bowling strike rate at 15.5. Not just this, Holder has operated at an average of 24.65 and a batting strike rate of 161.76 since 2025 as well. Too good a player to miss out.
The spin department will be taken care of by Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore. Last year, Kishore easily outbowled Rashid in every department. While Rashid took just nine wickets at his worst average of 57.11, Kishore bundled 19 scalps at 20.68. To round off the team, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are no-brainers to start with.
Siraj takes care of the new ball. The T20 World Cup 2026 winner started last IPL season with aplomb and would love to sizzle again. Krishna, meanwhile, ended with Purple cap with 25 wickets. His economy of 8.27 was terrific despite bowling all the tough overs.
Strongest Gujarat Titans Playing XII for IPL 2026
| No. | Player | Backup Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill (c) | |
| 2 | Sai Sudharsan | |
| 3 | Jos Buttler (wk)✈️ | Kumar Kushagra (wk)/ Tom Banton ✈️ |
| 4 | Washington Sundar | Nishant Sindhu |
| 5 | Glenn Phillips✈️ | Jayant Yadav/ Anuj Rawat (wk) |
| 6 | Rahul Tewatia/ Shahrukh Khan | Rahul Tewatia/ Shahrukh Khan |
| 7 | Jason Holder✈️ | Luke Wood ✈️ |
| 8 | Rashid Khan ✈️ | |
| 9 | Sai Kishore | Manav Suthar |
| 10 | Mohammed Siraj | Kagiso Rabada ✈️ |
| 11 | Prasidh Krishna | Gurnoor Brar/Ashok Sharma |
| Impact Sub | Arshad Khan | Prithviraj Yarra/ Ishant Sharma |
As for the Impact player, GT have incredible number of options. On a spin bowling track, they can bring in someone like Manav Suthar, who also offers something with the bat. On usual days, Arshad Khan could be great, as he provides left-arm angle. Watch out of talents like Gurnoor Brar and Ashok Sharma. Both are bustling pacers who can do great if given an opportunity.
Gujarat Titans full squad for IPL 2026
Anuj Rawat (wk), Glenn Phillips (wk)✈️, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Jos Buttler (wk)✈️, Kagiso Rabada✈️, Kumar Kushagra, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Prasidh Krishna, R Sai Kishore, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan✈️, B Sai Sudharsan, M Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill (c), Washington Sundar, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder✈️, Tom Banton✈️, Prithviraj Yarra, Luke Wood✈️
Cricket
Predicted Gujarat Titans Playing XI for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill to leave out Kagiso Rabada?
