Mumbai, March 21 – With a strong squad at their disposal, the Gujarat Titans team management will face a challenge in determining their playing combination for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The Shubman Gill-led side will need to make a key decision regarding the roles of two key players in the squad, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia, both of whom are all-rounders and can contribute significantly in the death overs.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar explained how the Gujarat Titans will shape their playing combination for IPL 2026:
“One thing GT has done is stick with the players they initially selected. They have continued to rely on Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia. Washington Sundar has also been given a role in T20 cricket for them. Not necessarily with the ball, but he comes in to bat in crucial positions, perhaps at number four. I see a similar role for Washington Sundar, primarily with the bat. We hope Shahrukh Khan will reciprocate the faith shown in him by the GT management. He showed signs of improvement last season, scoring runs at critical moments. If both Tewatia and Shahrukh play, one could be used as an impact player. If they contribute lower down the order, that will greatly benefit GT, as most runs came from the top order last time," said Bangar.
He also mentioned that bringing in New Zealander Glenn Phillips into the playing XI will add firepower to the batting lineup.
Bangar also discussed the reasons behind Rashid Khan’s reduced effectiveness in T20 cricket:
“Rashid Khan’s ‘mystery factor’ is fading due to a combination of factors. There is now greater familiarity among batsmen on how to play him. Batsmen have had ample opportunities to face Rashid, as he plays in all major franchise T20 leagues. He is a franchise king. Players around the world get opportunities to play against him. The more you face a bowler, the more your mind starts finding ways to deal with him. The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is not particularly slow. A major part of his game was to target the pads or get batsmen out by keeping the stumps in play. This has become less effective.
“The injury he had has healed. It may be affecting his pace of bowling. These are factors that may have diminished his performance slightly. But he is still a bowler who picks up two or three wickets and bowls with an economy rate of under eight runs per over,” said Bangar, who has previously coached the Punjab Kings.