IPL 2024: Best playing XI of Gujarat Titans after mini-auction (Photo Source: IPL)
Gujarat Titans (GT) have been the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last two years. However, they failed to defend the title in 2023 under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy after losing to the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Before the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai, Pandya parted ways with Gujarat and joined his old team Mumbai Indians (MI). Following this move, GT appointed opener Shubman Gill as their captain for the 2024 season. Under the new skipper, Titans will continue playing a fierce brand of cricket. In the 2024 auction, they spent INR 30.30 crore to add eight players to the team. After this development, it’s time to have a glance at the best XI of the 2022 IPL champions.
Here is the best XI of Gujarat Titans (GT) after the 2024 IPL auction
1. Shubman Gill (C)
Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Shubman Gill will be seen in the captaincy role for the first time in the cash-rich league. As a batter, the youngster looked stunning in 2023. He scored 890 runs in 17 matches at a marvellous strike rate of 157.80 and ended up as the leading run-getter in the competition. Noting his brilliant performance in 2023, GT have handed Gill the reins of the team.
The Gujarat-based franchise will expect Gill to justify his role as skipper and specialist batter. As a leader of the pack, he will look to be among big runs and set an example for other players to be disciplined. Before the marquee tournament, the star player will also strive to play some huge knocks for India against Afghanistan in a three-match T20 International (T20I) series as he didn’t look great with his bat in the last few T20Is.
2. Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
Wriddhiman Saha Batting. ( Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Wriddhiman Saha has played a lot of cricket in IPL in his vast cricketing career and his duty will be to give a stable start to the team with his captain Gill. In the previous IPL edition, he put up a decent show with the bat, smashing 371 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 129.26.
The veteran will be one of the most senior players in the GT squad and he can extract positive results for the team with his vast experience. However, his recent numbers are concerning as he failed to be impactful for his domestic team Tripura in the crucial tournaments Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
3. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Kane Williamson will add great value to the team with his skills and experience. In the previous season, he got injured while fielding in the inaugural game against CSK at the Narendra Modi Stadium and was ruled out of the entire tournament. The Kiwi stalwart has gained complete fitness and is ready to rock the upcoming T20 extravaganza with his presence.
In the 2023 World Cup, he proved his fitness with some quality innings. The 33-year-old will be a key player for Gujarat as his responsibility will be to provide support to the teams’ top order along with young Gill and the veteran Saha. The New Zealander has been active in the league since 2015 and has piled up 2101 runs in 77 matches at a strike rate of 126.03.
4. Sai Sudharsan
Sai Sudarsan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Sai Sudharsan won the confidence of the GT team management after his brilliant batting display for the side in 2023. Appearing in eight games, he hit 362 runs at a sensational strike rate of 141.40. His eye-grabbing performance came against CSK in the final. On a huge day, he played a rapid knock of 96 off just 47 and became the highest run-getter in the contest.
With Williamson’s return, Sudharsan might be demoted in the batting order but his importance won’t be affected. As a middle-order batter, he will have to deliver effective numbers to the team. Sudharsan will have to be among the runs to go to the tournament confidently as he didn’t look decent in the last two domestic tournaments.
5. David Miller
David Miller (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
David Miller will be expected to produce vital knocks from his bat in the IPL 2024. In the previous two seasons, the southpaw did his job efficiently for the side. After Pandya’s departure from the team, the Protea stalwart’s role will become more crucial in Titans’ middle order.
Back in 2022, when GT lifted the coveted trophy in their debut season, Miller chipped in with 481 runs in 16 matches. The 34-year-old is considered one of the best when it comes to batting in crunch situations. He will look to showcase his skills again in GT’s jersey. His recent notable performance came in the 2023 World Cup when he scored 356 runs in 10 matches at a fine strike rate of 107.87.
6. Shahrukh Khan
M Shahrukh Khan. (Photo Source: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
After getting released from the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Shahrukh Khan became a part of GT for a huge amount of INR 7.40 crore. The Chennai-born player is known for his ferocious batting style and noting his remarkable talent, GT might hand him the duty to play the role of a finisher.
The 28-year-old possesses a lot of experience in the domestic circuit. Representing Tamil Nadu, he has scored 928 runs in 70 innings at a strike rate of 133.52. Gujarat Titan’s team management will want their new member to shine with his bat and become an important asset for the team.
7. Rahul Tewatia
Rahul Tewatia. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Gujarat Titans will want their explosive batter Rahul Tewatia to don the role of a finisher in the team. The left-handed batter has snatched games from opponents several times with his spunky batting talent. In 2023, he couldn’t do much for the team but in the upcoming season, he will look to flex his arms again.
The 30-year-old is doing great for Haryana in the 2023-24 domestic season. In the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he racked up 352 runs in seven innings at a stellar strike rate of 131.34. He also averaged above 175.00 in the competition. These numbers will bring cheers to the faces of Gujarat supporters.
8. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Rashid Khan will spearhead GT’s spin attack again in the IPL 2024. The star Afghan player has delivered extraordinary numbers with the ball consistently since his association with the franchise in 2022. In the previous season, Titans finished the journey as runners-up and Rashid made a massive contribution of 27 wickets in 17 contests.
Rashid will endeavour to continue his brilliant work for the team in the upcoming competition. The star bowler was the leading wicket-taker for Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup, picking up 11 wickets in nine games at a thrifty economy of 4.48. His fans will want to witness his valiant side again in GT colours.
9. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar)
Mohammed Shami did a fabulous job for India in the 2023 World Cup. With 24 scalps in seven matches, he ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Earlier, in the year, he also won the purple cap in the 2023 IPL for clinching 28 wickets for GT in 17 games at an economy of 8.03.
Witnessing his impressive bowling performance in 2023, Gujarat supporters will keep their expectations high from him for the 2024 IPL season. Shami will also look to play fearless cricket in the upcoming tournament and deliver the desired results to his team.
10. Spencer Johnson
Spencer-Johnson. (Photo by Alex Davidson – ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
Gujarat-based franchise picked Australia’s left-handed pacer Spencer Johnson for INR 10 crore for the IPL 2024 season. Johnson will provide a variation to the pace attack with his bowling. The 28-year-old has been active in Australia’s domestic circle for more than six years. During this period, he has played 22 T20s and claimed 20 wickets at an economy of 7.85.
Currently, the paceman is serving Brisbane Heat in the 2023-24 Big Bash League (BBL) and he will look to be among the wickets to go to the cash-rich league with high confidence. Along with Shami and Mohit Sharma, he can be lethal for opponents and provide quality bowling numbers to the side.
11. Mohit Sharma
Mohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Mohit Sharma looked fantastic in 2023 for GT, grabbing 27 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 8.17. With these numbers, he ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition. Before the competition, he wasn’t expected to be on the highest wicket-taking chart but he utilised his experience for the team and became the talk of the town for his scintillating performance.
The 35-year-old will be expected to continue his excellent work for the GT team in IPL 2024 as well. In the recently passed 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, the pacer looked disciplined with the ball, bagging nine wickets in seven games at a frugal economy of 3.86.
