IPL Auctions: With marquee signings, Gujarat Titans walk out with starting XI at hand | Cricket News

From the time they have come on, Gujarat Titans have been smart with their purchases at the auction. After two wonderful seasons where they won the title and lost in the final, last season in the wake of Hardik Pandya’s transfer to Mumbai Indians, they appeared short on batting front. Instead of going for a complete revamp, they used their resources wonderfully, getting players at a bargain and putting together another well-rounded squad.
Batsmen
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia (retained), Sherfane Rutherford.
Wicketkeepers
Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat.
All-rounders
Rashid Khan (spin), Washington Sundar (spin), M Shahrukh Khan (spin), Mahipal Lomror (spin), Nishant Sindhu (spin), Arshad Khan (pace), Jayant Yadav (spin), Glenn Phillips (spin), Karim Janat (pace).
Spinners
Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore.
Fast bowlers
Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya.
First impression
Their clarity of thought stood out and it shows in the team they have assembled as they walked out knowing what their first XI is For firepower at the top, they have Jos Buttler, who can guide the likes of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan. The middle-order lacks the firepower, but in Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomoror and Rashid Khan, Sherfane Rutherfod have all-rounders to do the job. How much they miss a big name Indian batsman in the middle could well determine their outcome. In the bowling front, they appear strong as ever. After letting go of Mohammed Shami, they have Mohammed Siraj and there is Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee’s pace as well. In Prasidh Krishna there is another good pacer at their disposal. The spin department, again looks very good,
Area of concern
If one of Siraj or Krishna are not available, they don’t have a reliable local fast bowler.
Playing XII
1 Jos Buttler (wk), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Sai Sudharsan, 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 M Shahrukh Khan, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Sai Kishore, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh Krishna.