IPL 2025: 3 players Gujarat Titans might retain ahead of the mega-auction

Things have changed quite a lot in the Gujarat Titans (GT) camp. After winning the title in their debut season and finishing runners-up in the second, captain Hardik Pandya decided to switch back to Mumbai Indians, which hurt the franchise significantly as they finished eighth on the points table in 2024, accumulating 12 points in 14 matches. After which, there are reports of head coach Ashish Nehra parting ways with the franchise and the owners are likely to sell their stakes as well.

Multiple changes are expected from Gujarat next season and the process for the same has already started. It’s unclear if everything will materialize before IPL 2025 but that won’t hurt the team from building a strong squad and once again competing for the coveted trophy. The core team management has already started working for the same as they attended BCCI’s meetings regarding the next season last month.

Meanwhile, the apex council is due to announce the number of retentions ahead of the mega-auction and whether or not RTM cards will be back. It has kept things at a standstill but Gujarat must have eyed three players that they won’t let go. Who can possibly be those three players?

Here are the three players who are most likely to be retained by Gujarat Titans:

3. Rashid Khan

Star spinner Rashid Khan is arguably the biggest match-winner in the shortest format of the game. He has vast experience in the format, playing all across the globe. He represented Gujarat in 45 matches and has picked 56 wickets, which also includes a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. That same year, he picked up 27 wickets, finishing second on the highest wicket-takers list.

Rashid is also one of the leaders in the dressing room. After Hardik decided to switch sides, there were talks of him being appointed as the new captain but the team management wanted an Indian. As a result, Shubman Gill was handed the baton. He has led Afghanistan previously and has done well and can lead the bowling unit of Gujarat for years to come.

The 25-year-old has also bettered his batting in recent times. He made 130 runs in nine innings in 2023 at a whopping strike rate of 216.66. He can be very effective in the lower middle order and that’s another reason why Gujarat won’t let Rashid go at any cost.

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