The Gujarat Titans enter IPL 2026 with their core unchanged, keeping Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, and Washington Sundar as the central spine of the squad. Gill stays as captain after scoring 650 runs last season, while Sudharsan’s 759-run year ensures his place as a key top-order pillar.
Ravichandran Ashwin said that the GT are in such a stable position for the IPL 2026 mini-auction that they can “go to the auction casually with pakodas.” He explained that GT has only five spots to fill and still holds a purse of ₹12.9 crore, so most of their work is already done.
Ashwin pointed out that the franchise released Sherfane Rutherford because “they believe that Washington Sundar can do that job” and added that the top order is secure because “Sai and Gill’s 500 runs are guaranteed.” He also said that if Rashid Khan has a stronger season, GT is “a finals team.”
The franchise has moved on from Gerald Coetzee, Karim Janat, Mahipal Lomror, Dasun Shanaka, and Kulwant Khejroliya, and they have traded Sherfane Rutherford to the Mumbai Indians. The retained group also includes Prasidh Krishna, Nishant Sindhu, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Glenn Phillips.
GT steps into the mini-auction with a remaining purse of ₹12.9 crore, as they have 5 slots to fill, with 4 overseas.
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said about the retentions, “We’ve retained a group that gives us balance and clarity as we plan for the season ahead. We appreciate the efforts of the released players and wish them well for the future.”
What Players should the Gujarat Titans eye at the IPL 2026 Auction
GT enters the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a purse of ₹12.90 crore and only five slots to fill. They released Sherfane Rutherford, Mahipal Lomror, Dasun Shanaka, and Gerald Coetzee, with Rutherford traded to the Mumbai Indians for ₹2.6 crore.
Their only major gap is a finisher to replace Rutherford and provide late-innings batting. David Miller is a strong option to return, as he scored 950 runs for GT at a strike rate of 145.25 in 38 innings and is the team’s third-highest run-scorer after Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.
To bring stability to the Indian batting unit, GT should target Manish Pandey for the No. 4 or No. 5 position. Pandey has vast experience in the league, having played 174 matches in his IPL Career and scoring 3,942 runs with an average of 29.42 and a strike rate of 121.52.
Finally, the Gujarat Titans (GT) should prioritize adding Mohit Sharma to their squad for cost-effective Indian pace depth. Mohit Sharma previously played for the GT. His 2023 IPL season was highly successful, where he took 27 wickets in 14 matches with an Average of 13.37. His Overall IPL Career record includes 134 wickets in 120 matches at an Average of 26.22.
LSG Target Players 2026
| Player | Potential Role |
| David Miller | Finisher/Batter |
| Manish Pandey | Middle-order batter |
| Mohit Sharma | Fast bowler |
FAQs
Q. Who is the GT captain in 2026?
A. Shubman Gill is the Gujarat Titans captain for IPL 2026.
Q. Is Shubman Gill retained by GT?
A. Yes. GT retained Shubman Gill as part of their 20-player core for IPL 2026.
Q. Which players did GT release for IPL 2026?
A. GT released Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Dasun Shanaka, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, and Kulwant Khejroliya.
Q. Was Sherfane Rutherford traded to the Mumbai Indians?
A. Yes. Sherfane Rutherford was traded from the Gujarat Titans to the Mumbai Indians at his existing fee.
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