IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya and Gujarat Titans enter new season with goal of retaining crown
Sometimes, when you start playing a game and win it, people around you will pin it on the beginner’s luck.
That certainly wasn’t the case with the Gujarat Titans in their maiden IPL campaign in 2022, where they ended up being crowned as champions.
On paper, many felt that their squad could have been a bit better after the mega auction last year. While they did possess two superstars of the game in Rashid Khan and Hardik Pandya, they also got an up-and-coming prospect, Shubman Gill, who is tipped to do big things in international cricket.
They had some big and clutch performances from the likes of Rahul Tewatia and David Miller, as GT finished the league stage at the very top with 10 wins and 20 points.
The momentum was carried into the final where they beat Rajasthan Royals to win the crown. Well, that’s about their short history. Now let’s see what lies ahead for the defending champions.
Most expensive players of the season
The two earlier mentioned superstars, Hardik and Rashid Khan are the two most expensive players for GT at 15 crores each apparently. They’re followed by Rahul Tewatia and Shubman Gill at nine and eight crores.
During the IPL 2023 auction, GT splashed the cash to get Shivam Mavi into their squad. They also got Ireland’s Josh Little and KS Bharat during the auction. The big eye-catching purchase was of Kane Williamson during the auction.
Main Strengths and Weaknesses
The main strength for GT this season will be the form the nucleus of the side possesses at the moment. Pandya has gained a lot of experience as a skipper during the last year, while it seems like Gill is the next all-format player India will be banking on.
Rashid Khan is coming into the IPL after winning the PSL title with the Lahore Qalandars. The lineup does have a good mix of right-hand and left-hand batters and some good all-rounders as well.
Probably, if you look at the weaknesses, the big question will be who could open with Gill at the top. The decision to let Rahamanullah Gurbaz go to KKR may not have been a wise call.
While they can open with Wade at the top, he is better as a floater in the lineup and Wriddhiman Saha isn’t a long-term fix.
GT Full Schedule for IPL 2023
GT Full Squad for IPL 2023
Hardik Pandya (capt), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammed Shami, Shivam Mavi, Yash Dayal, R Sai Kishore, Abhinav Manohar, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, KS Bharat (wk), Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Urvil Patel, Sai Sudharsan, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, David Miller, Matthew Wade (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kane Williamson, Josh Little, Odean Smith, Noor Ahmad.