New Delhi, March 26 (NationPress) The Gujarat Titans embark on the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with lofty aspirations and a sense of unfinished business after their exit in last year's Eliminator stage. Having won the title in their inaugural season in 2022 and finishing as runners-up in 2023, the franchise is banking on key players like Shubman Gill and a batting lineup that has its weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of GT's prospects as they gear up for IPL 2026:

Strength: The foundation of GT is built on a batting record that made history last season. In IPL 2025, GT became the first team ever to have three players—Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—each exceeding the 500-run threshold in one season.

The partnership between Gill and Sudharsan was particularly notable, averaging 65.1, the best among all opening pairs that year. Their batting consistently set totals that were tough for opponents to chase.

On the bowling front, GT's pace attack boasts credentials that few teams can rival. Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—who clinched the Purple Cap in 2025—form a powerful bowling unit, equipped with experience and the ability to adapt to various pitch conditions.

Weakness: Despite a seemingly robust top order, there are concerns. Gill's exclusion from India's T20 World Cup-winning squad looms large. Sudharsan is returning from a rib injury, and Buttler's lackluster performance in the T20 World Cup raises questions. Should any of these key players falter in form, GT could face significant challenges.

Beyond this trio, the batting order appears uncertain, lacking a reliable finisher to close out innings effectively. Additionally, the spin department presents issues—Rashid Khan has struggled to take wickets at Ahmedabad, and the remaining spinners have had limited success in the domestic circuit.

Opportunity: A pivotal signing for GT in the auction is West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, who brings valuable contributions across all game phases. The performance of young Indian pacer Ashok Sharma will also be closely monitored following his impressive run in the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Washington Sundar also arrives with a revamped skill set. Since IPL 2025, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has transformed into a high-impact T20 batsman, offering not just useful off-spin bowling but also the batting depth GT currently lacks beneath the top three.

Threat: The most immediate worry in the GT camp is Buttler's form. His T20 World Cup performance was disappointing, averaging just 10.9 across eight innings. Whether this slump is merely temporary or indicative of deeper issues will soon be apparent, but GT cannot afford to wait long for Buttler to regain his form.

The selection of overseas players also presents a dilemma. With Buttler, Rashid, and Rabada likely to start, the competition for the fourth spot between Holder's all-round capabilities and Glenn Phillips' explosive batting will require a tough decision—potentially leaving either a vital bowling option or a key batting asset sidelined for every match.