In the IPL 2022, the Gujrat Titans made history as they became only the second franchise to win the IPL trophy in their debut season itself, after the Rajasthan Royals won it in the inaugural IPL season back in 2008.
Leading for the first time not just in the IPL, but in any professional cricket, all-rounder Hardik Pandya marshaled the side impressively. Titans were the only team with 10 wins in the league stage and topped it. They the defeated RR in Qualifier 1 and the final to clinch the title.
The Ashish Nehra-coached side, though, released some players, and only one of them – Ferguson – was a regular part of their XI.
Players released by Gujarat Titans – Lockie Ferguson (traded), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (traded), Jason Roy, Dominic Drakes, Gurkeerat Singh, Varun Aaron
Although GT have retained most of their players from last season and have many bases covered, there are still some worries for them heading into the IPL 2023 mini-auction, which is slated for December 23 in Kochi.
Here are 3 key concerns for Gujarat Titans (GT) going into the IPL 2023 auction:
Need an all-rounder as Pandya’s backup
After struggling for 2-3 years with a back injury issues, Hardik Pandya got operated on it, took a break of 4 months, and returned strong in the IPL 2022. He has since been fit and has barely missed any game due to any injury.
Now, however, GT must remain careful of Pandya’s fitness as Pandya is a crucial member of India’s T20I and ODI sides – and even touted as the next T20I skipper. So his workload is going to increase and with seamers the injury is never too far away.
GT have retained Vijay Shankar despite his horrific season last time, but there is no assurance in Shankar anymore, and they have released Gurkeerat Singh. GT should head into the auction aiming to get a decent seam-bowling all-rounder as Pandya’s backup, however, any seam-bowling all-rounder – whether Indian or overseas – are rare and won’t be easy to acquire in the auction.
Get a good middle-order batsman
While GT had a complete playing XI, they struggled throughout the season with one middle-order position, which also forced Hardik Pandya to shuffle between numbers 3 and 4 in the batting order.
They rotated and tried the likes of Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Sai Sudharsan, and Abhinav Manohar in that one spot, but none of them could really nail it down. All of them have been retained, but GT would want an established international batsman in their middle order who can anchor from one side, and even accelerate when needed.
Find a new opening partner for Shubman Gill, plus a wicket-keeper
Wriddhiman Saha did a decent job as GT’s opener last season – 317 runs but at a lowly strike rate of 122 – but the 38-year-old is soon going to hang his boots. Matthew Wade, the other potential opener who opens in the BBL, wasn’t impressive either last season in Indian conditions. They have also traded away Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
So clearly, one would assume, a wicket-keeper batter who can open and bat aggressively will be on Gujarat Titans’ agenda as they go into the IPL 2023 mini-auction. The combination they are looking for won’t be too difficult to find, but the options in the auction roster aren’t of great quality or immense experience.
