Gujarat Titans have been the biggest disruptor ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024 auction. Gujarat were forced to give up the services of their captain – Hardik Pandya – right ahead of the new season, after being traded to Mumbai Indians – a team that gave Pandya his debut in the IPL.
Hardik’s transfer to Mumbai resulted in MI giving up the services of their promising talent – Cameron Green, who they had bought just one season back in the IPL auction. Green was traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore to make space for Hardik.
While Gujarat have a gaping hole in their squad, the team’s playing XI is still an extremely strong one despite the absence of their former captain. That in fact is a testament to their sensational run in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League, where they won the title in 2023 and finished as runner’s up in a final-ball thriller vs CSK in 2023.
Gujarat Titans Retention List
Gujarat Titans have retained almost the entirety of their core players and have a settled playing XI. The team has a good mix of Indian and foreign players and will not find trouble creating a strong match-day line-up despite losing the services of the top white-ball all-rounder in the world.
Retained Players
Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, R. Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma.
The team, however, has let go of several players from the bowling contingent, which is a clear indication that they want to overhaul that segment. Gujarat also have let go of KS Bharat, which means that they will be in the market for a Indian wickeet-keeper as well, given that Wriddhiman Saha well past his prime.
Released Players
Pradeep Sangwan, Odean Smith, Alzarri Joseph, Dasun Shanaka, Yash Dayal, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel.
Gujarat Titans Purse
Rs 38.15 crore
Gujarat Titans Slots Left
Total – 8
Overseas – 2
IPL 2024 Auction: Top Picks for GT
Gujarat Titans Top Picks
Let’s start with the big man himself – Hardik Pandya. The mega trade requires a mega replacement and Gujarat Titans could think about this two ways. Either they can bring in an established India all-rounder in Shardul Thakur, who has not really fired in the last few months, or they can crank up the heat in the auction and go for someone like Azmatullah Omarzai. Omarzai was one of the top Afghan players in the recently concluded World Cup 2023 and he could garner a lot of attention in the auction.
Back-up For Williamson
Kane Williamson returns for Gujarat Titans after having a strong run in the World Cup. He got injured in his very first game in the 2023 edition of the tournament but has done well since coming back from injury in the World Cup 2023. Williamson is ageing and Gujarat will hope to start a transition process for the player. Another Kiwi – Rachin Ravindra could be a lovely replacement for the Kiwi legend. Ravindra is coming on the back of a sensational World Cup, where he finished as the top-scorer of the New Zealand side.
India Back-up Pacers
Gujarat Titans, in their brief time in the Indian Premier League, have done wonders with young India players. Gujarat now have stars in R Sai Kishore, Sai Sudarshan, and are also responsible for the career revival of Vijay Shankar. It can be argued that Gujarat might do the same this season as well.
Gujarat have done away with their a decent chunk of their bowling unit and might buy promising stars like Karthik Tyagi and Chetan Sakariya in the IPL 2024 auction.
Who Keeps Beside Saha?
Wriddhiman Saha is the last legs of his career. At 39, this could possibly be his final IPL season. Gujarat Titans might hammer and tongs for an Indian wicket-keeper who has the ability to open the innings as well.
GT might target Saurashtra wicketkeeper-batter Harvik Desai, who performed brilliantly in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Desai opened the innings for his team and scored 336 run at a strike rate of 175 and at an average of 67. GT will surely face competition from other teams and could end up spending a decent bit of money on the player.
Conclusion
Gujarat are already a well-settled team. A tweak here and there will be done and it is unlikely that they will buy someone really big to replace Hardik Pandya. The team this time will be based around Shubman Gill, and possibly players like Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan and David Miller might take up bigger responsibilities. Gujarat might go for players like Daryl Mitchell, Harvik Desai, Rachin Ravindra and a couple of other Indian youngsters in the IPL 2024 auction, set to be held in Dubai on December 19.
Gujarat Probable Playing XI from Retained List
Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Sai Sudarshan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, R Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma
