Gujarat Titans announced its arrival in style, winning the Indian Premier League title in the first season of its existence. Compare that to the likes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, who haven’t been able to kiss the trophy yet despite playing in every edition since the tournament’s formation in 2008.
When GT emerged as the champion in 2022, it emulated Rajasthan Royals’ by lifting the title in its first attempt. Interestingly, it was the Royals that the Titans defeated in the final to emerge victorious.
The following year saw Ashish Nehra’s boys nearly win the IPL for the second year in a row, suffering a heartbreaking last-ball loss, via DLS method, to Chennai Super Kings.
Last year, however, GT could not even qualify for the playoffs.
This time around, it has emerged as one of the strongest sides in the competition, despite its recent six-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants bringing an end to its four match winning streak.
GT has a week to recover from the loss before facing Delhi Capitals, another team who saw a similar winning run end recently, a result that put the Titans on top of the table.
A glimpse
In the season-opener against Punjab Kings, the Titans lost by 11 runs while chasing an imposing 243 for five. Despite the defeat, that match gave a glimpse of the team’s strengths: its top three batters had the potential to change the outcome of any game.
Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have been fantastic this season and are one of the big reasons why GT looks so formidable.
Captain Gill has so far scored 208 runs at an average of 41.60 and a strike rate of 149.64, while Sai Sudharsan has made 329 (54.83, 151.61) and Buttler has struck 218 (43.60, 157.97). Sai Sudharsan has four fifties to his credit, while Gill and Buttler have two each.
Among the trio, Sai Sudharsan stands out with scores of 74, 63, 49, 5, 82 and 56. The left-hander’s batting has not just been about the numbers either. It is also about how he achieved those numbers: scoring runs in style and with admirable composure. He drives, cuts, lofts and pulls with authority. His strokes are mostly orthodox, but he is also at home taking the unorthodox route, like the ramp shot, which he played off Fazalhaq Farooqi for a stunning six against Rajasthan Royals.
Sai Sudharsan has the potential to be an all-format player for India. After that match-winning knock, Royals’ spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule predicted bright future for him.
“He has been a prolific scorer in domestic and I am sure he will get his opportunity. I have done a few tours of India A team with him and he scored runs in India and abroad. I am sure the selectors will be looking at him and his progress. After the IPL, he will be due for his opportunities,” he said.
Sai Sudharsan’s opening partner Gill already has 14 international hundreds, across formats, to his credit since making his debut for India six years ago.
Ingenious Englishman
Buttler, GT’s number three, has been around in international cricket much longer. He is, in fact, one of the masters of modern white-ball cricket and is often rated as England’s best batter of all time against the white ball. The 34-year-old has undoubtedly been one of the finest players in the league and the records back that up.
After playing his first two seasons for Mumbai Indians, the soft-spoken Englishman moved to the Royals in 2018. For the next seven years, until he was surprisingly let go by the management, he was the backbone of the team’s batting, smashing seven hundreds and racking up more than 3,000 runs.
RR’s loss, though, has been GT’s gain.
Assistant coach Parthiv Patel explained why GT was keen to rope in Butter’s, paying ₹15.75 crore for his services. “When we acquired him at the auction, that was the plan: that he would bat at number three. He is a senior cricketer on the ground, and he was also supposed to keep wickets, though he wasn’t keeping wickets for England. But he was going to do that for us. He is one of the best players of white-ball cricket in recent years, and it is good to see him scoring runs and delivering for us,” the former India wicketkeeper said.
Buttler has so far delivered for GT, with scores of 54, 39, 73 (not out) and 36.
Like Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford has proved another sensible overseas signing, that too for a ‘paltry’ ₹2.6 crore. The West Indian has lent firepower to the middle order, striking at 166.31 and averaging 39.50.
The presence of M. Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia ensures the middle order has enough heft. Then there is Washington Sundar, the talented, hard-working off-spinning all-rounder who is dependable when called upon, as he showed with a 29-ball 49 in the successful chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
If he makes it to the XI, there is a distinct Tamil flavour to the GT batting, alongside Sai Sudharsan and Shahrukh. The Titans’ star performer this season is M. Sai Kishore, another Tamil Nadu player.
The curly-haired spinner, who took three for 30 in GT’s first match against Punjab Kings, has been remarkably consistent. With 10 wickets so far, he remains a strong contender for the purple cap.
Parthiv is glad with the way the 28-year-old has performed. “Sai Kishore is probably the best spinner so far in this tournament. It is remarkable the way he is bowling and how brave he is in difficult conditions.”
That is high praise indeed, especially when you consider that GT’s spin bowling boasts the wily Rashid Khan. The Afghan leg-spinner, while not as impactful as he would have wanted to, remains a world-class cricketer who could strike form any moment.
“Rashid is a proven cricketer. He has done so well for so many years. It just takes one game. We are confident about Rashid’s ability,” said Parthiv.
Pace battery on fire
The management has every reason to feel confident in its Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who have played crucial roles in the team’s success in the early part of the season.
Fresher, fierier and even faster on his return after a break, Siraj was the Player of the Match in successive games, first against former side Royal Challengers Bengaluru and then against his ‘local’ team SRH.
After conceding 41 runs without picking up a wicket in his first game, Prasidh has since not only been economical but also penetrative.
Prasidh and Siraj’s superb efforts have ensured GT is coping with the absence of Kagiso Rabada, who had to go home to South Africa for personal reasons. Sai Kishore, Prasidh and Siraj have all claimed 10 wickets each.
With a team oozing class and consistency, the Titans have been living up to their name this season. And it will take a brave man to bet against them as we head into the business end of this IPL campaign.
Published – April 15, 2025 12:48 am IST