Let’s analyse Gujarat Titans' retentions and releases for the upcoming auction.
Gujarat Titans (GT) were among the most successful teams in the previous cycle, even if they didn’t qualify for playoffs in the last edition. They won the title in 2022 and came very close in the next season, falling short against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
However, GT still had several loopholes in the squad, which became more noticeable in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami in the 2024 season. They had a few quality players, but the overall balance was unsuitable for a T20 tournament.
Hence, GT will make a few changes to their squad and leave out several key players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Let’s analyse their retentions and releases for the upcoming auction.
Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill will be the first retention of Gujarat Titans. A solid player of pace and spin, Gill is the perfect anchor at the top. The batting will revolve around him.
Further, he is also the captain of the side and will continue as a leader. With age on his side, Gill will be a long-term investment and should get the most amount. It won’t be a good idea to let him come into the auction.
Rashid Khan: The best T20 player in the world, Rashid Khan should be the second retention of GT ahead of the mega auction. He has a range of variations and can operate effectively in all phases. Not only a defensive bowler, but Rashid is an authentic wicket-taker, capable of taking wickets at will.
Further, he is also more than a handy batter and can score useful runs in the lower order. He is capable of winning matches with the bat as well. He should be the second retention.
David Miller: David Miller should be the third retention of Gujarat Titans. Miller is among the finest pace hitters in world cricket and can be flexible with his batting position in the middle order. Hence, he is an ideal player for the finisher role.
Miller’s auction value will be massive, and if he comes into the auction, almost all teams will go after him. Hence, his price will surge massively, and GT might not get him back. There’s still ample cricket left in him, so Miller can easily go through another cycle successfully.
Abhinav Manohar: Abhinav Manohar should be Gujarat Titans’ only uncapped retention ahead of the auction. There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, he is a nonchalant six-hitter and a solid pace-hitter.
Even his recent form has been marvellous. Given GT can get him at just INR 4 crores, he is a steal. He is a long-term investment and will serve them for years to come.
Sai Sudharsan: Sai Sudharsan is a quality player and has done well for the franchise in the past. However, his auction value might not be close enough to the retention slab. There’s quality, but GT can get him at a lower price from the auction by using RTM or re-bidding.
GT would have retained him in the uncapped category if he was uncapped. But using a retention slot at this stage won’t be wise. He still needs to work more on his power game and boundary-hitting ability in the shortest format.
Rahul Tewatia: There’s an argument for retaining Rahul Tewatia as an uncapped player. But what he offers at this stage might not be worth a retention. His current role is batting in the lower order and providing impetus to the innings in death overs.
Due to the introduction of the Impact Player rule, his bowling value is negligible and didn’t bowl much for GT. It’s not wise to spend a retention slot on a one-dimensional player whose job is to play a few balls. Unless GT decide to change his role, they should release him.
Mohammed Shami: Mohammed Shami was GT’s best bowler in the previous cycle, but GT might still release him ahead of the next auction. There are multiple reasons. The biggest one is his injury issues; he hasn’t played any cricket since last November and his future is uncertain.
He might not be a long-term investment, something teams opt for in the mega auction. Hence, spending a retention slot and a high amount for him might not be worth it.
Noor Ahmad: For an overseas spinner, it’s hard to find a place in the team having Rashid Khan. However, Noor Ahmad was still among the best spinners in the competition, especially among wrist-spinners. However, his value might still not be close to the retention slab.
If he comes into the auction, Noor won’t fetch such a high amount, given the number of wrist spinners available. That number will be much higher this time due to the mega auction. Hence, GT can get him back at a lower price in the auction.
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