Gujarat Titans ( Photo source : IPL )

Things have changed quite a lot in the Gujarat Titans (GT) camp. After winning the title in their debut season and finishing runners-up in the second, captain Hardik Pandya decided to switch back to Mumbai Indians, which hurt the franchise significantly as they finished eighth on the points table in 2024, accumulating 12 points in 14 matches. After which, there are reports of head coach Ashish Nehra parting ways with the franchise and the owners are likely to sell their stakes as well.

Multiple changes are expected from Gujarat next season and the process for the same has already started. It’s unclear if everything will materialize before IPL 2025 but that won’t hurt the team from building a strong squad and once again competing for the coveted trophy. The core team management has already started working for the same as they attended BCCI’s meetings regarding the next season last month.

Meanwhile, the apex council is due to announce the number of retentions ahead of the mega-auction and whether or not RTM cards will be back. It has kept things at a standstill but Gujarat must have eyed three players that they won’t let go. Who can possibly be those three players?

Here are the three players who are most likely to be retained by GT:

3. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan. (Source -IPL)

Star spinner Rashid Khan is arguably the biggest match-winner in the shortest format of the game. He has vast experience in the format, playing all across the globe. He represented Gujarat in 45 matches and has picked 56 wickets, which also includes a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. That same year, he picked up 27 wickets, finishing second on the highest wicket-takers list.

Rashid is also one of the leaders in the dressing room. After Hardik decided to switch sides, there were talks of him being appointed as the new captain but the team management wanted an Indian. As a result, Shubman Gill was handed the baton. He has led Afghanistan previously and has done well and can lead the bowling unit of Gujarat for years to come.

The 25-year-old has also bettered his batting in recent times. He made 130 runs in nine innings in 2023 at a whopping strike rate of 216.66. He can be very effective in the lower middle order and that’s another reason why Gujarat won’t let Rashid go at any cost.

2. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Shubman Gill is considered to be the future of Indian cricket. After Pandya’s switch, he was appointed as the captain and even though Gujarat failed to do well under his leadership, Gill is likely to continue as the management wants to build the squad around him. Meanwhile, even though he has flopped as captain in his first season, he has done well with the bat, which is another reason why Gujarat are likely to back him.

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In his first season with Gujarat, Gill scored 483 runs in 16 matches as they went on to win the title. In 2023, he got even better, registering 890 runs in 17 matches and finishing as the leading run-scorer of the tournament. In the latest edition of the competition, Gill scored 426 runs in 12 matches, including one century and two half-centuries.

Gill also has a great record while playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium – GT’s home in IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2025, he will have the opportunity to build his team after which, Gill’s real test will begin. Until then, there’s no reason why the franchise will be parting ways with the opener.

1. Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

There were plenty of options to choose from like Mohammed Shami, David Miller, and Kane Williamson but Gujarat are likely to keep their faith in Sai Sudharsan. has done a commendable job for the franchise in the last few years, registering 1034 runs in 25 games at a strike rate of 139.16.

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He can play the role of an anchor and can accelerate whenever required, which makes him one of the dangerous components. The youngster is also extremely consistent. In IPL 2023, the 22-year-old scored 362 runs in eight matches and in the last edition, Sudharsan hit 527 runs in 12 matches and finished as the sixth-leading run-scorer of the tournament.

Gujarat have invested in him over the years and that’s likely to continue, especially as he is still very young and is yet to hit his prime. The Chennai-born cricketer also did a commendable job in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 and that would only increase his chance to get retained.