When Gujarat Titans (GT) made up their squad for their inaugural IPL season in 2022, no one gave them a chance. However, the environment that the management and all the players created, under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, impacted performances on the field and GT claimed the IPL title. They even made it to the IPL 2023 final before a trade move surprised everyone. The Titans lost Pandya to the Mumbai Indians (MI). But it unearthed a new skipper in Shubman Gill. While IPL 2024 didn’t go as expected, GT built a strong unit at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. On that note, let us take a look at the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) best-playing XI with an Impact Sub for IPL 2025.
GT at IPL 2025: Captain Shubman Gill-Jos Buttler the best
The captain of the Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill, has been exceptional throughout the seasons for the franchise. Talking about his best season in 2023 while opening, he scored 890 runs in 17 innings with a strike rate of 157.8, which is truly remarkable. In the 2024 season, he did incredibly well for the team, scoring 426 runs in 12 innings with a strike rate of 147.4, making him a valuable asset and a permanent player for the team to open the innings.
To open with Gill is the evergreen Jos Buttler. It was superb on GT’s part to get three players from the marquee list, including Buttler, who got Rs 15.75 crore. In the 2023 season, he scored 355 runs, and in the 2022 season, which was his best, he scored 863 runs in 17 innings with a strike rate of 149. He has a good strike rate and is a power hitter. His camaraderie would be fascinating to watch with Gill.
GT: What about retained Sai Sudharsan
Looking at all the records, we can say that Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill are the best pair to open the innings for the Gujarat Titans. Both Buttler and Gill do not have much experience playing at number 3, while Sai Sudharsan can anchor the innings at number 3 and perform well, providing stability. Therefore, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler should open the innings, and Sai Sudharsan should come in at number 3.
Talking about Sudharsan, GT have heavily invested in him, who is an India player now. In fact, the southpaw was retained ahead of the likes of Mohammed Shami, David Miller and Mohit Sharma. GT believe the left-hand batter from Tamil Nadu is a long-term player who can perform a key role in the top order. Sudharsan, who was bought for INR 20 lakhs in 2022, was the sixth-highest run-maker in IPL 2024 with 527 runs with an average of nearly 48 and a strike rate of 141.
GT at IPL 2025: Unconventional yet powerful middle-order ft. Glenn Phillips
There surely is versality in GT’s middle order. Having said that, their middle order remains the only weak link for the Titans. They lost David Miller in the mega auction but have frankly not made it great in replacing him. The two retained players, Rahul Tewatia (No. 7) and Shahrukh Khan (No. 6), would hope for a striking IPL 2025 season. GT have shown great faith in them. While Tewatia has time and again proved to be an X-factor player, a lot would be riding on Shahrukh, who has never had a breakout IPL campaign.
But both Tewatia and Shahrukh will be finishers, so who will form up the middle order? Well, the best options are Glenn Phillips and Mahipal Lomror. Lomror was signed for Rs 1.70 crore at the auction. It must be reminded to all that in IPL 2024, the southpaw had played 10 matches for RCB and scored only 125 runs, but his strike rate was up at 183. His left-handedness and strike power will come in handy for GT, who would like to pair Lomror with someone like Glenn Phillips.
Phillips is a monster when it comes to T20s, having played an exceptional 253 matches. He has over 6,471 runs at a SR of 140.58. His off-spin bowling even troubled the Indian batters in a recent Test series. Another potential option could be Sherfane Rutherford, who is having a superb 2024. Despite regularly batting at number six or seven, Rutherford has made 290 runs at 140.09 for the West Indies in 16 innings.
More on IPL 2025
Who would be the extra batter with the Impact Sub rule?
Now comes an important cog as well—an extra batter owing to the Impact Player rule. This would allow GT to give support to their already stacked batting. Anyone of Sai Sudharsan or Mahipal Lomror should fit as an impact player. While batting first, an extra would start the innings before getting subbed off with a specialist bowler in the second innings. That specialist bowler is most likley to be Prasidh Krishna.
GT at IPL 2025: Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar form spin duo
Despite including an extra batter with the Impact player rule, GT still boasts over 7 bowling options! This is the reason why the franchise gets attracted to multi-faceted players. Now comes potentially the most important player for the Gujarat Titans, i.e., Rashid Khan. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, there is only one player who would be deemed underpaid even at INR 18 crore and that is Rashid Khan. Gill’s decision to take a pay cut meant that Rashid Khan proved to be Gujarat’s top retention pick, irrespective of him not being the skipper.
After all, he considered the best spinner in the T20 format (if not the best bowler). Moreover, Rashid is just a few games away from creating history, as he is only 10 wickets short of getting the title of the ‘bowler with the most T20 wickets in history’. In 448 T20 innings, he has 622 wickets at a phenomenal economy of 6.48. To partner Rashid is Washington Sundar. He was bought by for a cut price of 3.2 crores. And now this is a very good bye for the Titans, who have roped in an extremely talented player. Sundar is an able all-rounder whose batting and bowling prowess make him one of the best in the business. He has an impressive economy of 6.87 in T20s after having scalped 47 wickets from 52 games. He can literally bat anywhere in the batting order too!
GT at IPL 2025: Rabada-Siraj! Bang, Bang!
GT made a statement in the IPL 2025 mega auction, securing two top-notch pace bowlers. Kagiso Rabada, the South African sensation, joined forces with Mohammed Siraj, the Indian speedster. This dynamic duo promises to wreak havoc on opposition lineups.
Rabada’s impressive record speaks for itself: 117 wickets in 80 matches. Unquestionably, Rabada is one of the best bowlers across formats currently and will spearhead the pace attack. Siraj, meanwhile, boasts 93 wickets in IPL 93 matches. It was hard for RCB fans to let go Siraj, who is the third-highest wicket-taker for them, having taken 83 wickets in 87 games.
Together, they form a formidable pace partnership. Rabada’s variations and Siraj’s raw pace will keep batters on their toes. As a substitute option, Prasidh Krishna’s inclusion would further strengthen their pace attack. With this trio, GT’s opponents will face a daunting task. As a backup to Rabada, GT also have someone like Gerald Coetzee. Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma is also there to add his experience.
Note, this is a batting first XI. Hence, someone like Sai Sudharsan could be subbed out in the second innings to make way for either Prasidh Krishna or Sai Kishore, as per conditions.
Best Playing XI for MI for IPL 2025 (batting first)
| S No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill | Batter & Captain |
| 2 | Jos Buttler (O) | Batter & Keeper |
| 3 | Sai Sudharshan | Batter |
| 4 | Glenn Phillips/Sherfane Rutherford (O) | Batter |
| 5 | Mahipal Lomror | Batter |
| 6 | Shahrukh Khan | Batter |
| 7 | Rahul Tewatia | All-rounder |
| 8 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 9 | Rashid Khan (O) | All-rounder |
| 10 | Kagiso Rabada (O) | Bowler |
| 11 | Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
Best Playing XI for GT for IPL 2025 (bowling first): If GT bowls first, Mahipal Lomror or Sai Sudharsan start on the bench, and GT slot in either Prasidh Krishna/R Sai Kishore (as per conditions) in the first innings. In the second innings, they must swap.
GT IPL 2025 auction picks
Kagiso Rabada (Rs. 10.75 crore), Jos Buttler (Rs. 15.75 crore). Mohammed Siraj (Rs. 12.25 crore), Prasidh Krishna (Rs. 9.50 crore), Nishant Sindhu (Rs. 30 lakh), Mahipal Lomror (Rs. 1.70 crore), Kumar Kushagra (Rs. 65 lakh), Anuj Rawat (Rs. 30 lakh), Manav Suthar (Rs. 30 lakh), Washington Sundar (Rs. 3.20 crore), Gerald Coetzee (Rs. 2.40 crore), Arshad Khan (Rs. 1.30 crore), Gurnoor Brar (Rs. 1.30 crore), Sherfane Rutherford (Rs. 2.60 crore), Sai Kishore (Rs. 2 crore), Ishant Sharma (Rs. 75 lakh), Jayant Yadav (Rs. 75 lakh), Glenn Phillips (Rs. 2 crore), Karim Janat (Rs. 75 lakh), Kulwant Khejroliya (Rs. 30 lakh).
GT retained players list
Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan
