Key takeaways
- GT finished 2nd in the 2026 league and lost the final to RCB.
- Shubman Gill (732 runs) and Sai Sudharsan (722) both passed 700; Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap with 29 wickets.
- The Narendra Modi Stadium is a big ground where batting first and chasing have won almost equally.
- This guide uses the 2026 squad; we will update it after retentions on 17 November and the December auction.
GT at a glance
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ashish Nehra |
| Home ground | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| IPL titles | 2022 |
| 2026 league stage | 2nd — 9 wins, 5 losses, 18 points |
| 2026 result | Runners-up |
| 2026 top run-scorer | Shubman Gill, 732 |
| 2026 top wicket-taker | Kagiso Rabada, 29 (Purple Cap) |
The 2026 season in brief
GT lost their first two matches, then won nine of the next twelve to finish second. In the playoffs they lost Qualifier 1 heavily to RCB, beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Qualifier 2, and lost the final to RCB by five wickets in front of their home crowd.
Their season was built on two things fantasy players love: openers who batted deep into innings, and a bowling attack where four players took 17 or more wickets.
Squad by role (2026)
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan |
| Wicket-keepers | Jos Buttler (overseas), Tom Banton (overseas), Anuj Rawat |
| All-rounders | Rashid Khan (overseas), Jason Holder (overseas), Glenn Phillips (overseas), Washington Sundar, Jayant Yadav, Manav Suthar, Nishant Sindhu |
| Pace bowlers | Kagiso Rabada (overseas), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Luke Wood (overseas), Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma, Prithvi Raj Yarra |
| Spin bowlers | Sai Kishore |
Teams can field only a limited number of overseas players, and GT have more overseas options than places, so check who plays each match.
Form and numbers from 2026
| Player | Role | 2026 numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Batter (captain) | 732 runs, strike rate 163 |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batter | 722 runs, strike rate 158 |
| Kagiso Rabada | Pace bowler | 29 wickets, economy 9.43 — Purple Cap |
| Rashid Khan | Spin all-rounder | 21 wickets, economy 9.29 |
| Mohammed Siraj | Pace bowler | 18 wickets, economy 9.06 |
| Jason Holder | Pace all-rounder | 17 wickets in 11 matches, economy 7.54 |
Two things stand out for fantasy. Gill and Sudharsan finished second and third in the run-scoring list, so GT's top two were among the most reliable picks of the season. And Jason Holder took his wickets at under eight an over in only 11 matches — a high return for a player often picked as a cheaper all-rounder.
Core fantasy picks
- Shubman Gill — 732 runs as captain and opener; one of the safest captaincy options whenever GT play.
- Sai Sudharsan — 722 runs; together with Gill, he gives GT two top-order batters who regularly bat long.
- Kagiso Rabada — the Purple Cap winner with 29 wickets; bowls in the powerplay and at the death.
- Rashid Khan — 21 wickets and can hit late in the innings; a two-way pick.
Value picks and differentials
- Jason Holder — 17 wickets at 7.54 an over in 2026; strong value when he plays.
- Mohammed Siraj — 18 wickets; a new-ball option who is often less picked than Rabada.
- Jos Buttler — a wicket-keeper who can bat anywhere in the top order; if he opens or bats at three, he becomes a core pick.
- Washington Sundar — off-spin and useful batting; good on a slower Ahmedabad surface.
Always check the confirmed playing eleven and batting order after the toss.
Narendra Modi Stadium: what the numbers say
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket ground in the world, with long boundaries but a fast outfield. All-time IPL figures at the venue (51 matches, as of May 2026):
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average first-innings score | 178 |
| Wins batting first / chasing | 26 / 25 |
| Highest total | 243/5 |
| Highest successful chase | 204/3 |
| Lowest total | 89 |
What it means for your team:
- Balanced between bat and ball. Batting first and chasing have won almost equally, so the toss matters less here than at most grounds.
- Hit-the-deck seamers do well, with some lateral movement — good for Rabada, Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
- Spinners get grip and turn, which helps Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar.
- Big boundaries reward running and placement more than pure hitting, which suits top-order batters who bat long, like Gill and Sudharsan.
Full venue breakdown — records, toss trends, pace vs spin and a pre-match checklist: Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report. For a general routine, see pitch and conditions.
Matchups to check before each GT game
- Rabada and Siraj against the opposition openers. Two of GT's top three wicket-takers bowl with the new ball; a visiting top order that struggles early is a good fixture for them.
- Rashid Khan against the middle order. Check how the opposition's middle-order batters have played wrist-spin recently.
- Gill and Sudharsan against opposition spin. On a ground with big boundaries, how they handle the middle-overs spinners decides whether they go big.
- Death overs and Rahul Tewatia. If the opposition's death bowlers have been expensive, GT's finishers gain value.
Where to look: player profiles and head-to-head pages on ESPNcricinfo or the official IPL site list a batter's record against each bowler and bowling type.
Captaincy in GT matches
- At Ahmedabad: Gill or Sudharsan.
- When the pitch is slow or turning: Rashid Khan.
- In mega contests: Jason Holder or Siraj can separate you from the many teams captained by Gill.
More on choosing: captain and vice-captain.
Recent head-to-head (2025–2026)
GT's results against the other nine teams over the last two seasons, including playoffs.
| Opponent | 2025 | 2026 | GT won–lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Lost | Won, won | 2–1 |
| Delhi Capitals | Won, won | Won | 3–0 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Won | Won, lost | 2–1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Lost, lost | Won | 1–2 |
| Mumbai Indians | Won, won, lost (Eliminator) | Lost | 2–2 |
| Punjab Kings | Lost | Lost, won | 1–2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Won, lost | Lost, won, won (Qualifier 2) | 3–2 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Won | Lost, won, lost (Qualifier 1), lost (final) | 2–3 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Won, won | Won | 3–0 |
Treat these results as context, not a prediction. GT have won all of their last three games against both Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, while RCB beat them in both 2026 knockout games.
What to watch before IPL 2027
- 17 November — retentions. With seven overseas players, GT will have to choose; Buttler, Rabada, Rashid and Holder cannot all be certain starters every game.
- 16 December — auction. Any new top-order batter or wicket-keeper would change where Buttler bats — and with it, his fantasy value.
- Fixtures (expected early 2027). Home games at Ahmedabad are the best fixtures for Gill and Sudharsan.
Sources
- The Tribune (ANI), IPL extends deadline for retention lists to November 17, 2 November 2026 — retention deadline.
- Wikipedia, Gujarat Titans — titles, captain, coach, squad, 2026 record and leaders.
- IANS, From early struggles to final berth: GT's journey to the IPL 2026 title clash — 2026 results and playoff path.
- Wikipedia, 2025 Gujarat Titans season — 2025 results.
- Sporting News via Yahoo Sports, IPL Orange Cap 2026 list — Gill and Sudharsan's runs and strike rates.
- MyKhel, IPL 2026 Purple Cap: top 10 wicket-takers — wickets and economy rates.
- CricTracker, GT vs RCB final: IPL 2026 records and stats at Narendra Modi Stadium — venue figures and pitch notes.