It’s always interesting to talk about the new and fresh team, Gujarat Titans, who clinched the IPL trophy in their very first season. While many teams haven’t tasted IPL success in the 17 years of the league’s history, this team came in and won the trophy in IPL 2022. However, it’s evident how poorly they performed in IPL 2024 after two successful years – first as champions and then as runners-up in 2023 under their former leader, Hardik Pandya.
Suddenly, in the latest edition, they tumbled to eighth place under their new captain, Shubman Gill.
The IPL 2025 mega auction talk is everywhere, with discussions about player trades and IPL auction rules are all over the place. As we look at the GT lineup, what changes might they make? Here are three names that could possibly be released from the GT camp ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Players GT may release ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction
Rashid Khan
One debatable name that might be released by the Gujarat Titans is Rashid Khan. There could be several reasons behind this possibility, including his injury issues, which affected his performance in the last IPL season. Rashid only managed to take 10 wickets across 12 games with an economy rate of 8.40, which is poor for him. He had never had an economy rate above 8 in previous seasons, having played in the league since 2017. Also, he took at least 15 wickets per season, but this time he fell short. As a spinner, he disappointed, and it’s possible that GT may think twice before retaining him. Although nothing is confirmed yet, this big name could be under scrutiny this time.
Kane Williamson
Another big name is former New Zealand white-ball captain Kane Williamson. He was on and off with the team in IPL 2024, making a return after a knee injury in the 2023 IPL. However, he couldn’t make the impact that was needed. Williamson played only 2 games and, despite the opportunity, failed to capitalize, managing just 4 boundaries in total. GT, struggling from the top, did not see the performance they hoped for from Williamson. It’s possible that IPL 2025 may bring a different scenario for him, as there is a strong chance that GT might release him.
Vijay Shankar
One more name that should not come as a surprise if he gets released is Vijay Shankar, and there are a few reasons for this. Shankar, with 72 games of experience and known for his all-rounder abilities, was expected to be a perfect No. 4 batter. Unfortunately, he couldn’t justify his place in the playing XI. In terms of batting, he made just 83 runs in 7 games and didn’t get a chance to bowl, failing to instill confidence in his skipper, Shubman Gill. Shankar, who was a regular with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, hasn’t been able to secure a permanent spot in the GT lineup. There are strong chances he might also be released this time.
