Two finals in two editions, and a trophy in their maiden IPL campaign, that’s Gujarat Titans for you. Over the last couple of the years, the kind of dominance this team has shown in the tournament, is exemplary. There isn’t one department that hasn’t fired for them, be it batting, bowling or, fielding, against the giants of the tournament.
GT has shown, they can handle the pressure of expectations well, and there is no reason why they can’t repeat their success in IPL 2024 as well. Yes, the regular captain Hardik Pandya has moved to Mumbai Indians now, and Shubman Gill will lead in his place, but the team still, somehow manages to look solid on paper.
Of course, the star power in the team has come down a bit with the exit of Pandya, but the the work done in the IPL Auction by the GT management has ensured, they don’t suffer during the tournament, and bagged some key Indian and foreign players. Rest assured, it will be another successful season for the Titans.
Gujarat Titans Performance in Recent Years
In their first season, the team beat Rajasthan Royals in the final, whereas they lost in the summit clash against Chennai Super Kings the following year. The team boasts of a staggering record till now, having won 23 matches, and lost only 10. Another aspect of their success is, the team, in the two years of its existence, hasn’t taken anything for granted.
They have never gotten complacent as a team, even when they have a winning momentum, topping the league stages on both occasions. In 2022, they faced only four defeats overall, while the number came to six the following year.
Team Gujarat Titans SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Without any doubt, batting has to be their stronger suit. Apart from Shubman, there is David Miller, Matthew Wade, Kane Williamson, and Rahul Tewatia in the squad. All these men can not only play the attacking game, but also build the innings when the situation demands. Some of them have been in exceptional form as well, and it will just be a question of carrying the momentum to the T20s. Sai Sudarshan has also played for India now, which would add to his confidence.
Another area that looks strong for the team is their spin-bowling department. There’s Rashid Khan who’s fully fit now. Then there is Sai Kishore, the Tamil Nadu captain who led them to the semis in Ranji Trophy. And left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad could be a secret weapon for the GT.
Weakness
The fast bowling unit could be a little weak here. Mohammed Shami is injured, Pandya has switched teams, which leaves Umesh Yadav as the most experienced pacer. No one really knows what kind of form he’s in, after he failed to grab the eyeballs in the Ranji Trophy. Kartik Tyagi, Mohit Sharma, and Spencer Johnson will have to come good.
Opportunities
With Pandya gone, GT do have a like-for-like replacement in Azmatullah Omarzai. He has a decent record with the bat, and the ball, and should fit the team’s plans well. But it all depends on what sort of team combination does the management decide to go with. He could certainly be a math-winner though.
Threats
With limited fast-bowling resources, GT would have to be very sure as to who will be their two pacers, or even one. It is clearly a spin-heavy team now, and at this point it is difficult to say, who will be their pace spearhead. This is something they will have to get sorted quickly in the tournament.
Key Players
Shubman is the most important player for the side. As a skipper, he will have to first come good with the bat. If he does that, his confidence will only grow, as far as the captaincy is concerned.
Another player who would be crucial for their success would, Rashid, who is coming back after a back injury. If he picks wickets, GT will win. It’s as simple.
GT Squad for IPL 2024
David Miller, Shubman Gill (c), Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson, Robin Minz.
GT Fixtures in IPL 2024
| Date | Opposition | Venue | Time |
| March 24 | Mumbai Indians | Ahmedabad | 7.30 PM |
| March 26 | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai | 7.30 PM |
| March 31 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ahmedabad | 3.30 PM |
| April 4 | Punjab Kings | Ahmedabad | 7.30 PM |
| April 7 | Lucknow Super Giants | Lucknow | 7.30 PM |
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