Gujarat Titans made an impactful entry into the IPL, clinching the title in their debut year and narrowly missing out on it in the following season.
This strong start sparks the debate: was their early success attributed to Hardik Pandya’s leadership or the team’s collective resilience under the guidance of coach Ashish Nehra?
With Pandya’s departure, the spotlight shifts to Nehra’s coaching prowess.
His informal and supportive approach to managing the team garnered widespread praise.
However, the real challenge lies in the leadership of Shubman Gill.
While Gill has earned acclaim for his batting prowess, his captaincy skills remain untested.
The Titans’ management, along with the Indian cricket fraternity and the BCCI, eagerly await his performance as captain.
As Gill is touted as a potential future captain of the Indian team, his success or failure will reverberate far beyond Ahmedabad.
Performance in recent cycles:
2022: Champions
2023: Runners-up
Key Additions:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Spencer Johnson |
| Shahrukh Khan |
| Umesh Yadav |
| Kartik Tyagi |
| Azmatullah Omarzai |
Key Subtractions:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Hardik Pandya |
| Mohammed Shami |
| Shivam Mavi |
| Alzarri Joseph |
| Odean Smith |
Full Squad:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Shubman Gill |
| David Miller |
| Matthew Wade |
| Wriddhiman Saha |
| Robin Minz |
| Kane Williamson |
| Abhinav Mandhar |
| B Sai Sudarshan |
| Darshan Nalkande |
| Vijay Shankar |
| Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Shahrukh Khan |
| Jayant Yadav |
| Rahul Tewatia |
| Kartik Tyagi |
| Sushant Mishra |
| Spencer Johnson |
| Noor Ahmad |
| Sai Kishore |
| Rashid Khan |
| Umesh Yadav |
| Joshua Little |
| Mohit Sharma |
| Manav Suthar |
One glaring statistic from last year that Titans will aim to rectify is their seamers’ performance in the Powerplay overs. Throughout the season, Titans’ seamers accounted for 23 wickets in the Powerplay, tying for the highest among all teams. However, there was a stark contrast in their performance at home versus away matches. In nine home games, they secured 16 wickets at an average of 22.50. Conversely, in eight away matches, they managed only seven wickets at an average of 47.00. Addressing this inconsistency will be crucial for their success this season.
Injuries and availability:
The absence of Mohammed Shami will be a significant setback for GT this season. Additionally, Matthew Wade, the Australian keeper-batsman, will miss out on IPL action as he participates in the Sheffield Shield final for Tasmania from March 21 to 25. Furthermore, GT will feel the void left by Hardik Pandya, who has transferred to Mumbai Indians.
Possible XI and potential Impact Player tactic:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Shubman Gill |
| Wriddhiman Saha |
| Sai Sudarshan |
| David Miller |
| Vijay Shankar |
| Rahul Tewatia |
| Rashid Khan |
| Joshua Little |
| Mohit Sharma |
| Umesh Yadav |
| Noor Ahmad |
Kane Williamson could potentially step in as a replacement for either Noor Ahmad or Mohit Sharma.
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