Batters Gujarat Titans expected to retain for IPL 2026 ft. Jos Buttler

A year ago, Gujarat Titans (GT) were delisted. Hardik Pandya was gone, the aura seemed shaken and questions loomed over Shubman Gill’s ability to lead. By the end of IPL 2025, they had answered all of that with a top-four finish and one of the most consistent batting units in the competition. GT’s first drive ended with three of the season’s top 15 runners, a statement that their batting engine is still going strong.

They have a different approach, because the GTs are not enthusiastic from the first ball. As openers, GT has two modern anchors in Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who take risks but not wild ones. Jos Buttler remains the biggest X-factor as GT struggled when he went on international duty last season.

Now, as the retention deadline approaches, the franchise faces predictable calls: who to back, who to release, and who has been carried by the brand. With ten hitters on their books, here’s a look at who deserves another season in the blue and gold.

Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler, obvious choices

Gil was not only the captain; he was also GT’s ballast. He scored 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 155.87, and he often set the tone at the top. He didn’t turn any into a hundred, but his six fifties came in games GT won. As the face of the franchise, Gill’s association with the franchise is expected to be extremely long and fruitful.

Sai Sudharsan was arguably the most improved Indian hitter in the league last season. With 759 races at 54.21 average and 156.17 SR, including a 108*, Sudharsan has become the heartbeat of GT. He has been criticized for being a slow T20 hitter, but his model is what GT really aspires to be. It is tailor-made for them and Rs 8.50 crore is a bargain for someone like Sudharsan, who is not only the present but also the future.

With 538 races at an average of 59.77 and 163.03 SR, the foreign heavyweight finally had a season that justified his price tag. The butler The presence gave GT top-notch stability and elevated the starts given by Gill and Sudharsan. It’s an easy choice; despite its outlay (Rs 15.75 crore), elite foreign hitters are invaluable when performing at this level.

GT needs Rutherford, Phillips and Lomror

Left-handed power hitters are rare on the market. Ask RR, who can’t let go of Shimron Hetmyer for the same reason. While Sherfane Rutherford His form may have declined a bit since IPL 2025, he is a class act. Now a regular in the West Indies T20I team, Rutherford can change the game in one fell swoop. Quietly one of the most efficient finishers in 2025, scoring 291 runs at an average of 32.33 and 157.29 SR. He didn’t produce any viral moments but regularly closed out innings effectively. For ₹2.6 crore, it’s a steal by daylight.

Likewise, GT was barely able to use it due to injury, but Glenn Phillips remains a Swiss army knife of T20. He remains an explosive middle-order option, part-time guard, livewire outfielder. If he is fit, he is worth double that Rs 2 crore price tag. Among Indians, GTs have two additional left-handed options Mahipal Lomror And Anuj Rawat. Both have experience of playing in IPL and can be excellent backups. Rawat, in particular, had a tremendous DPL 2025, where he led the East Delhi Riders and made 329 runs at an average of 41.13 and 158.94 SR.

Batting Options GT Can Keep

Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat

Batters GT should let go

Shahrukh Khan – ₹4 crore
He had flashes with a fifty (57 off 31) but 179 runs in 11 innings at that price is not sustainable. GT has held him up ahead of the mega auction, but Shahrukh is yet to prove his worth. Rs 4 crore can be used judiciously elsewhere.

Karim Janat – ₹75,000
Barely used and unlikely to fit GT’s versatile balance. Interestingly, the only one he played last year saw him get hit for 30 runs against RR’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Janat also had a terrible 2025 Asian Cup, scoring just 9 runs in 3 innings.

Kumar Kushagra – ₹65,000
This is promising, but GT already has Anuj Rawat and national holding depth. It’s best to release it and revisit it later.

Gujarat Titans IPL 2025 Team

Shubman Gill (c) (₹16.50), Sai Sudharsan (₹8.50), Jos Buttler (₹15.75), Sherfane Rutherford (₹2.60), Shahrukh Khan (₹4), Rashid Khan (₹18), Rahul Tewatia (₹4), Washington Sundar (₹3.20), Glenn Phillips (2 cr) ₹), Mahipal Lomror (₹1.70), Karim Janat (₹75 lakh), Nishant Sindhu (₹30 lakh), Sai Kishore (₹2), Jayant Yadav (₹75 lakh), Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75), Mohammed Siraj (₹12.25), Prasidh Krishna (9.50) ₹), Gerald Coetzee (₹2.40), Ishant Sharma (₹75). lakh), Kulwant Khejroliya (₹30 lakh), Manav Suthar (₹30 lakh), Arshad Khan (₹1.30), Gurnoor Brar (₹1.30), Kumar Kushagra (₹65 lakh), Anuj Rawat (₹30 lakh).