GT threats & misses ahead of IPL 2025 auction: Shami-less GT boggled by vulnerable bowling line-up

Gujarat Titans have retained a majority of batters ahead of IPL 2025 auction. The one-time IPL champions have retained Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia and Sai Sudharasan. While GT did comprise of a balanced bowling and batting line-up in IPL 2024, they will now enter the auction without the services of stars including Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, David Miller and others. Shubman Gill and co. will have a challenging task at hand on the auction table as they will strive to strike balance once again.

Shubman Gill on the hunt for opening partner

The departure of Matthew Wade and Wriddhiman Saha means GT will have to look for a new opening partner for Shubman Gill. Saha was a regular in GT’s playing XI over the last few seasons and was replaced by Wade only when he was injured. With 2934 runs from 170 IPL matches, the Indian was easily one of the most experienced players that the franchise had. Saha has decided to retire from all forms of cricket while Wade is out of the scheme of things for any team. Hence, GT will have to look for fresh options in IPL 2025 auction.

Middle order woes ft. David Miller, Vijay Shankar

While the team has a strong number 3 batter in the form of Sai Sudharsan, the lack of middle-order batters has been exposed following their retentions. Rashid Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia are adept to the role of finishing but this leaves the middle-order after Sudharsan vulnerable. The absence of bigwigs like David Miller, Azmatullah Omerzai, Vijay Shankar will hurt the Titans, given that the trio were regular in the playing XI.

Since joining GT in 2022, Miller has scored 481, 259 and 210 runs in the last three seasons, making him one of the most consistent scorers for the side. Vijay Shankar had a decent run in 2023 when he amassed 301 runs but had a poor season the following year.

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Weak bowling line-up sans Shami exposed

Gujarat Titans were forced to release Mohammed Shami after the injury-prone player missed the entirety of IPL 2024. He emerged as the team’s highest wicket-taker in 2023 when he bagged 28 wickets in the season. GT will now have to hunt for an experienced pacer in the IPL 2025 auction. Mohit Sharma, another veteran pacer, has also been released. The likes of Umesh Yadav and Karthik Tyagi have also been released, leaving the team with no pacers at all currently.

In the spin department, the team has released Tamil Nadu’s Sai Kishore, perhaps at the wrong time as he seems to have found his golden touch in 2024. Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad has also been shown the door, leaving the side with just Rashid Khan as the frontline spinner.

Missing uncapped stars in GT

GT had a good pool of uncapped players until IPL 2024 but are now left with only 2 in their side. Abhinav Manohar, who enjoyed a phenomenal run in the Maharaja Trophy, could have played a vital role for the side. Similarly, Manav Suthar has been on fire in the recent past in the domestic tourney. He too has been released by the franchise.

GT IPL 2025 retention list

Rashid Khan (18 cr)

Shubman Gill (16.5cr)

Sai Sudharsan (8.5cr)

Rahul Tewatia (4cr)

Shahrukh Khan (4 cr)

GT remaining purse for IPL 2025 mega auction

69 crores