IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans have made a few releases ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction without tinkering with their title-winning squad. Leading for the first time in the IPL, Hardik Pandya marched the debutant franchise to the IPL 2022 trophy.
They had traded away Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Lockie Ferguson, while Dominic Drakes and Jason Roy are the other two overseas players who they have let go. Among Indians, Gujarat has retained most of their players from the title-winning squad of last season, except for all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh and speedster Varun Aaron.
The good news for the Titans is that despite releasing only 6 players, they have a sizeable purse of 19.25 left for the IPL 2023 mini-auction from which they could make a couple of big-name international signings to strengthen their squad.
Here are the players released by Gujarat Titans:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Lockie Ferguson, Dominic Drakes, Gurkeerat Singh, Jason Roy, Varun Aaron
Here are the players retained by Gujarat Titans:
Hardik Pandya (C), Shubman Gill, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad
Overseas slots remaining – 3
Purse remaining: INR 19.25
The IPL 2023 auction will take place in Kochi on December 23.
The Titans have stuck with most of the players who helped them win their maiden title in their debut IPL season. Even the few who didn’t have a good IPL season – such as Matthew Wade, Vijay Shankar, and Pradeep Sangwan – have been retained on the skillset and the experience they bring to the table.
Skipper Hardik Pandya will be high on confidence after being elevated to the leadership group of the national side after a successful debut season as Titans’ skipper.
