With the IPL 2026 auction approaching fast, the Gujarat Titans (GT) have officially finalised their retained and released players list after finishing 3rd in IPL 2025 and qualifying for the playoffs. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, the franchise delivered a strong season but struggled in the middle order—something they have now aggressively addressed for IPL 2026. The mini-auction is scheduled for December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, adding extra buzz around GT’s final squad planning.
GT have strengthened their core, released underperforming overseas names, and created room for fresh auction picks. Let’s break down Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 squad strategy, including retained players, released players, purse updates, and key decisions ahead of the auction.
GT Purse Remaining & Slots Available
Purse Remaining: ₹12.9 crore
Total Players in Squad: 20
Slots Left: 5 (including 4 overseas)
GT Retained Players for IPL 2026
Gujarat Titans have backed their strongest performers from IPL 2025 while building a balanced squad for the future. Their retentions include proven batters, impactful all-rounders, and world-class bowlers.
Gujarat Titans Retained Players List (Final – Official)
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Top Order & Key Batters | Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler |
| All-Rounders | Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar |
| Spin Unit | Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav |
| Fast Bowlers | Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma |
| Young & Domestic Core | Anuj Rawat, Nishant Sindhu, Kumar Kushagra, Manav Suthar, Glenn Phillips |
GT are expected to utilize Washington Sundar in a flexible batting role, potentially at No.4, signalling a bigger all-round responsibility in IPL 2026.
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GT Released Players List IPL 2026
To free up overseas slots and refresh their squad ahead of the auction, GT have moved on from several players who couldn’t deliver consistent performances in IPL 2025.
GT Released Players List (Final – Official)
| Player | Role | Reason for Release |
|---|---|---|
| Karim Janat | All-Rounder | Limited opportunities |
| Kulwant Khejroliya | Pacer | Death bowling concerns |
| Gerald Coetzee | Fast Bowler | Expensive spells, lacked wicket-taking threat |
| Dasun Shanaka | All-Rounder | Could not secure a stable middle-order role |
| Mahipal Lomror | All-Rounder | Released to restructure Indian middle-order options |
Read more: IPL 2026 Released Players List
GT Traded Players (Official)
Along with their releases, Gujarat Titans also completed one official trade ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
| Player | Role | Trade Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sherfane Rutherford | All-Rounder | Traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) for ₹2.6 crore all-cash deal |
This move allowed GT to add valuable budget flexibility while MI strengthened their middle-order with a powerful finisher.
Squad Strategy for IPL 2026
GT’s strategy for the auction revolves around strengthening the No.4 batting slot, adding a consistent finisher at No.6, and acquiring a specialist death bowler to support Rabada and Siraj.
Key Areas to Improve
• Middle-Order Batter (No.4): A stabilising Indian middle-order option.
• Finisher: A power-hitter to strengthen lower-order scoring.
• Death Bowling: Specialist to add depth alongside Siraj & Rabada.
• Spin Backup: Additional cover behind Rashid & Sundar.
Read Also:- Top 10 Most Successful IPL Captains
Final Thoughts
The Gujarat Titans have taken calculated decisions ahead of IPL 2026. With a strong retained core led by Shubman Gill, supported by match-winners like Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, and a world-class pace unit of Siraj–Rabada–Prasidh, the team looks well-equipped. Entering the mini-auction with ₹12.9 crore and 5 available slots (including 4 overseas), GT are well-positioned to target impactful players who can elevate them into strong title contenders once again in IPL 2026.
