IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans Preview – Squad Analysis of GT And Starting XI

After winning the IPL and making it to the final in their first two seasons, Gujarat Titans fell short of the playoffs for the first time in 2024. They ended the season in eighth place, securing five wins, suffering seven losses, and seeing their last two matches washed out.

Best Likely XII

1. Shubman Gill (capt)
2. Jos Buttler* (wk)
3. B Sai Sudharsan
4. Sherfane Rutherford/Glenn Phillips*
5. Washington Sundar
6. Rahul Tewatia
7. Shahrukh Khan
8. Rashid Khan*
9. R Sai Kishore
10. Kagiso Rabada*
11. Mohammed Siraj
12. Prasidh Krishna
    * denotes overseas player

Full Squad

Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Nishant Sindhu, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Arshad Khan.

Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2025 Setup: Titans Aim for Resurgence After Early IPL Dominance

Following a major overhaul at the mega auction, the Titans have assembled a revamped pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj (INR 12.25 crore), Kagiso Rabada (INR 10.75 crore), and Prasidh Krishna (INR 9.5 crore). They also boast considerable depth with the likes of Gerald Coetzee, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, and left-armers Kulwant Khejroliya and Arshad Khan.

Despite an explosive start to their IPL journey, Gujarat Titans endured a forgettable 2024 campaign. The pre-season trade of Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians and Mohammed Shami’s injury setback proved costly, leading to an underwhelming finish. However, their dominance in the 2022-24 cycle remains notable, with 28 victories from 45 matches—more than any other team—while topping the table in both 2022 and 2023.

Approaching the new cycle strategically, GT built their squad around retained skipper Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan. This solid core allowed them to go all-in at the auction, securing key names like Jos Buttler (INR 15.75 crore) and Kagiso Rabada. Buttler is set to form an electrifying opening duo with Gill, offering firepower at the top. Though he struggled for form in India earlier this year, his match-winning century at Eden Gardens in IPL 2023 remains an iconic knock.

The coaching staff also sees a fresh face, with former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade joining Ashish Nehra’s setup as an assistant coach. Meanwhile, GT’s auction strategy emphasized both pace and versatility. Alongside Rabada and Siraj, they acquired Sherfane Rutherford (INR 2.60 crore) to strengthen the finishing role, while Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Gerald Coetzee, and Sai Kishore add further quality. True to their identity, the Titans have once again prioritized aggressive fast bowlers and a diverse mix of all-rounders across experience levels.

Watch Out For

Shubman Gill

Being left out of even India’s second-string T20 squad will be a tough pill to swallow for the GT skipper, who has long been touted as the next big thing in Indian batting. Beyond proving his credentials as a T20 batter, he will also be eager to showcase his leadership, especially with many viewing him as a future full-time captain for the national team.

Gill’s dominant 890-run IPL 2023 season had all but cemented his place in India’s T20I setup. However, an inconsistent run of form combined with stiff competition has pushed him out of contention. He missed out on the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opened for India, and even after their retirements, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have leapfrogged him in the pecking order. A standout IPL season is now crucial for Gill to reclaim his spot in India’s T20 plans.

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler has enjoyed success at his new home ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, amassing 317 runs in eight T20 matches. His record includes two half-centuries and a memorable hundred against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2022, making him a key asset for Gujarat Titans at the venue.

Shahrukh Khan

A familiar name in Indian domestic cricket, Shahrukh Khan has built a reputation for his explosive batting against both pace and spin. His standout performances in the TNPL earned him an IPL call-up, but he has yet to consistently live up to the expectations. The 2025 season presents a golden opportunity for him to finally make a lasting impact in the league.

Rashid and Rabada Bring Red-Hot Form to IPL 2025

Rabada and Rashid played pivotal roles in MI Cape Town’s title-winning SA20 campaign, finishing as joint-highest wicket-takers with 12 scalps each. Since the conclusion of IPL 2024, only three bowlers have claimed more T20 wickets than Rashid, yet none have matched his stellar average or economy rate.

Among those with over 40 wickets in this period, Rashid boasts the best average, while only Noor Ahmad (6.52) has a better economy rate than his impressive 6.61.

Titans’ Batting Depth Faces Stern Test

With a formidable top order featuring Gill, Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan, along with a proven finisher in Rahul Tewatia, Gujarat Titans have a strong foundation. However, their middle and lower order lacks established IPL performers.

Options like Sherfane Rutherford and Glenn Phillips—who have only ten and eight IPL appearances, respectively—along with Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, and Mahipal Lomror, remain unproven at this level. For Titans to avoid being overly reliant on their top three, these batters will need to step up and deliver beyond their past performances.

Concerns

Titans Set for IPL 2025 with a Fully Fit Squad

Gujarat Titans head into IPL 2025 with a clean bill of health. Sai Sudharsan, their leading run-scorer last season, has fully recovered from sports hernia surgery undergone in December. Shahrukh Khan, who missed the latter stages of the Ranji Trophy and most of the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to injury, is also back in action, giving GT a full-strength squad to kick off their campaign.

Fixture Challenges and Key Home Ground Stat

Gujarat Titans kick off their 2025 IPL campaign with consecutive home games against Punjab Kings (March 25) and Mumbai Indians (March 29). This is followed by a demanding stretch of four matches, including three away fixtures. However, a lighter schedule after April 12—featuring just three games in two weeks—offers a crucial window for recovery before a high-intensity second leg.

Ahmedabad has witnessed several last-over heartbreaks for GT, with five of their seven home defeats coming in final-over finishes. Notably, they lost twice on the last ball—Rinku Singh’s heroics against Yash Dayal for KKR and the IPL 2023 final where MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings clinched victory off Mohit Sharma’s bowling.

Read More: IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals Preview – Squad Analysis of DC And Starting XI

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