Anuj Rawat, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter retained by Gujarat Titans, remains on the sidelines in IPL 2026 but has pledged to be "100 percent ready" whenever called upon, crediting the franchise's intensive training regimen for maintaining his sharpness. Speaking to IANS on Tuesday, 28 April, Rawat projected optimism about GT's campaign despite the squad sitting on eight points in fifth place at the halfway stage of the tournament.

The retention reassurance

Rawat expressed gratitude for being retained by Gujarat Titans ahead of the auction, citing the stability and familiarity that comes with continuity. "There was a conversation that we will retain you," he recalled, noting that head coach Ashish Nehra's call brought immediate reassurance. The retention spared him the upheaval of joining a new franchise, where coaching staff, environment, and setup would demand fresh adaptation. "If you are being retained for the same franchise, then there are a lot of things that are in your favour," Rawat elaborated.

GT's dressing room culture sets it apart

Rawat singled out the Gujarat Titans environment as distinctly welcoming compared to his previous stints. "The GT dressing room environment is very friendly and this is the thing that makes GT different from other franchises," he said. This marks a notable contrast with his time at Rajasthan Royals, where he shared the dressing room with veteran Jos Buttler. The two have rekindled their bond at GT, with Rawat drawing learning from Buttler's practice sessions and wicket-keeping drills. "He is a legend and there are definitely some small things that you learn from him," Rawat noted.

The mental challenge of bench duty

Rawat acknowledged the psychological and physical demands of staying match-ready without regular game time. "This is the most difficult thing if you are not playing and you are in a team setup," he admitted. However, he framed it as a "specialty of a cricketer" — the ability to maintain complete preparation despite limited opportunities. "If you are not getting a chance, you still have to be 100 percent ready and be involved in that setup," he stressed, underscoring the discipline required in high-performance environments.

GT's training methods elevate domestic cricket too

Rawat reflected on how Gujarat Titans' rigorous preparation methods have reshaped his overall approach to cricket. "On the field, I felt a very vast difference when I came to GT," he said, noting that the franchise conducts practice sessions and preparations "a lot more and... little differently." This intensive culture has carried over into his domestic cricket season, where he found the extensive groundwork at GT invaluable. The transition between IPL and domestic formats, he noted, involves "a little more pressure," but GT's preparation has narrowed that gap.

Team success over personal ambition

When pressed on his chances of excelling if given an opportunity — particularly with Jos Buttler and Kumar Kushagra ahead of him in the pecking order — Rawat prioritised collective success. "I think as a cricketer, I am 100 percent ready. But it is very important that your team keeps winning, as that will be the most important factor in the competition. If I get the chance, I will be 100 percent ready," he concluded.