Gujarat Titans enter IPL 2026 as one of the most balanced squads in the tournament. Under captain Shubman Gill, GT boast world-class talent in Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj — a formidable mix of batting depth and elite bowling.
Note: Sherfane Rutherford was traded to MI before the auction. GT retained the largest core (20 players) of any team in IPL 2026 and had minimal auction purse left to spend.
GT Probable Playing XI for IPL 2026
#
Player
Role
1
Shubman Gill (C)
Opener / Batter
2
Jos Buttler (WK)
Wicketkeeper / Batter
3
B Sai Sudharsan
Batter
4
Glenn Phillips
All-rounder / WK
5
M Shahrukh Khan
Finisher / Batter
6
Rahul Tewatia
All-rounder / Finisher
7
Washington Sundar
All-rounder
8
Rashid Khan
Leg-spinner / All-rounder
9
Kagiso Rabada
Pacer
10
Mohammed Siraj
Pacer
11
Prasidh Krishna
Pacer
GT IPL 2026 Strengths
Rashid Khan — World’s best T20 spinner; match-winner with bat and ball in any conditions. An automatic selection in any T20 XI.
Jos Buttler — Elite T20 opener; the 2022 IPL Orange Cap winner and a proven match-winner at the highest level.
Kagiso Rabada + Mohammed Siraj — One of the most fearsome pace combinations in IPL history; elite in powerplay and at death.
Shubman Gill — Elegant captain-batter; one of India’s most consistent performers and a natural leader.
Squad depth — 20 retained players means extraordinary squad familiarity and cohesion going into IPL 2026.
GT IPL 2026 Concerns
Lost Sherfane Rutherford (traded to MI) — a specialist finisher gap to fill in the death overs.
Middle-order balance beyond Tewatia and Shahrukh needs proving, especially if Glenn Phillips underperforms.
Very little auction spend means limited ability to fix gaps discovered during the tournament.
GT IPL 2026 Verdict
Gujarat Titans arguably have the most balanced squad in IPL 2026. With Rashid, Rabada and Siraj forming an elite bowling attack, and Gill, Buttler and Sudharsan leading the batting, GT are genuine contenders for a third IPL title.
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