<p>Bengaluru: In sports, there are generally two kinds — Ones who embrace flamboyance to get their job done and the other whose efficacy shines brighter than their elegance. Gujarat Titans, who won the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2026-majority-of-captains-express-reservations-on-contentious-impact-player-rule-3944415">IPL </a>title on their debut in 2022 and finished runners-up the ensuing year, belong to the second type. And by the looks of it, there won’t be any change in their approach.</p><p>Unlike several teams who have loaded their squads with power hitters as T20s embrace the era of hell for leather style, Gujarat Titans have stuck with good, clean strikers at the top and middle with just a couple of belters down the order — a throwback to the times not too old. Well, when it has worked for them, why change it?</p><p>So, just like last season, the Titans will be banking on their top three comprising skipper Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler to lay the foundation and the rest to build on it as they chase a second title. Gill and Sudharsan aren’t outrageous smashers like compatriots Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson, but they have been immensely successful at their job. They are somewhat old school where they take their time to settle down before playing the big shots, and it has worked exceptionally well for them and GT.</p><p>Last season, Sudharsan won the Orange Cap for most runs scored (759), which he did at a strike rate of 156.17. Gill was not too far behind with 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87. They constantly got GT off to good starts with Sudharsan’s exploits even earning him an India Test cap when they toured England a month later. Buttler, coming in at No. 3, ensured the momentum was maintained as he too featured in the top ten run-getters with 538 at a strike rate of 163.03. Despite the calculated approach, GT breached 200 on eight occasions and scored 190s twice last season. </p><p>The worry for GT is that all three are chasing their own demons coming into IPL, and how they conquer them will have a bearing on the team’s fortunes. Gill has lost his place in the Indian T20 set-up, and given the hyper-aggressive approach of this current crop, he’ll be forced to redefine his style. Will he or won’t he remains to be seen. </p><p>Sudharsan is on the brink of losing his place in the Test team following a series of poor scores, and although T20 is the exact opposite of red-ball cricket, he really needs another strong season to stay relevant. Same with Buttler, who had a harrowing time in the recently concluded T20 World Cup with just 87 runs in eight outings for England. </p><p>Another player who will be desperate to restore his fading aura is leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Once the most feared bowler in the league and world, where batters just focussed on playing him out safely because the risk of taking him on far outweighed the reward, the Afghan has now been decoded successfully. GT will be hoping Rashid regains his potency.</p><p>Having said that, GT have one of the strongest bowling attacks among all teams. Their pace attack comprises the bruising Kagiso Rabada, last season’s Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna, and T20 World Cup winner and the whole-hearted Mohammed Siraj. They even have Sai Kishore and Washington Sundar as strong spin partners for Rashid. Add all-rounders Jason Holder and Glenn Phillips, the depth is solid. In essence, they’ve got all bases covered. If all the forces combine, then GT could be hard to contain.</p><p>Squad: Shubman Gill (capt), Jos Butler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohd Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan.</p>.<p>Best finish: Champions (2022).</p>
<p>Bengaluru: In sports, there are generally two kinds — Ones who embrace flamboyance to get their job done and the other whose efficacy shines brighter than their elegance. Gujarat Titans, who won the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2026-majority-of-captains-express-reservations-on-contentious-impact-player-rule-3944415">IPL </a>title on their debut in 2022 and finished runners-up the ensuing year, belong to the second type. And by the looks of it, there won’t be any change in their approach.</p><p>Unlike several teams who have loaded their squads with power hitters as T20s embrace the era of hell for leather style, Gujarat Titans have stuck with good, clean strikers at the top and middle with just a couple of belters down the order — a throwback to the times not too old. Well, when it has worked for them, why change it?</p><p>So, just like last season, the Titans will be banking on their top three comprising skipper Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler to lay the foundation and the rest to build on it as they chase a second title. Gill and Sudharsan aren’t outrageous smashers like compatriots Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson, but they have been immensely successful at their job. They are somewhat old school where they take their time to settle down before playing the big shots, and it has worked exceptionally well for them and GT.</p><p>Last season, Sudharsan won the Orange Cap for most runs scored (759), which he did at a strike rate of 156.17. Gill was not too far behind with 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87. They constantly got GT off to good starts with Sudharsan’s exploits even earning him an India Test cap when they toured England a month later. Buttler, coming in at No. 3, ensured the momentum was maintained as he too featured in the top ten run-getters with 538 at a strike rate of 163.03. Despite the calculated approach, GT breached 200 on eight occasions and scored 190s twice last season. </p><p>The worry for GT is that all three are chasing their own demons coming into IPL, and how they conquer them will have a bearing on the team’s fortunes. Gill has lost his place in the Indian T20 set-up, and given the hyper-aggressive approach of this current crop, he’ll be forced to redefine his style. Will he or won’t he remains to be seen. </p><p>Sudharsan is on the brink of losing his place in the Test team following a series of poor scores, and although T20 is the exact opposite of red-ball cricket, he really needs another strong season to stay relevant. Same with Buttler, who had a harrowing time in the recently concluded T20 World Cup with just 87 runs in eight outings for England. </p><p>Another player who will be desperate to restore his fading aura is leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Once the most feared bowler in the league and world, where batters just focussed on playing him out safely because the risk of taking him on far outweighed the reward, the Afghan has now been decoded successfully. GT will be hoping Rashid regains his potency.</p><p>Having said that, GT have one of the strongest bowling attacks among all teams. Their pace attack comprises the bruising Kagiso Rabada, last season’s Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna, and T20 World Cup winner and the whole-hearted Mohammed Siraj. They even have Sai Kishore and Washington Sundar as strong spin partners for Rashid. Add all-rounders Jason Holder and Glenn Phillips, the depth is solid. In essence, they’ve got all bases covered. If all the forces combine, then GT could be hard to contain.</p><p>Squad: Shubman Gill (capt), Jos Butler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohd Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan.</p>.<p>Best finish: Champions (2022).</p>