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The Gujarat Titans (GT), a franchise built on consistent performance in their inaugural years, had a solid, though ultimately disappointing, run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. They finished 4th on the points table with 9 wins out of 14 matches, successfully qualifying for the playoffs but bowing out in the Eliminator.
Despite the strong league stage performance, the team’s ability to capitalize on their core strength was hampered by a few underperforming high-value players and a lack of depth in key areas, which was exposed in crucial knockout games. Specifically, expensive overseas signings and retained domestic all-rounders failed to deliver match-winning contributions relative to their price tags. To free up a significant portion of their auction purse and find more impactful talent, GT must strategically release financially cumbersome players ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
5 players Gujarat Titans can release ahead of IPL 2026 auctions
1.Kagiso Rabada (Overseas Pacer)
- Contract Value: INR 10.75 Crore
- Reason for Release: High cost, Minimal availability and poor output
GT secured Kagiso Rabada for a high price, intending for him to be an elite pace spearhead. However, his IPL 2025 season was plagued by inconsistent form and off-field issues, leading to limited participation. He featured in just 4 matches, picking up 2 wickets at a very high average of 81.00 and an economy rate of. Given the presence of other quality pacers like Mohammed Siraj and the high price tag consuming a significant overseas slot, his release is a necessary financial and tactical decision to find a more reliable, full-season overseas option.
2. Jayant Yadav (All-Rounder/Spinner )
- Contract Value: INR 75 Lakh
- Reason for Release: Minimal utilization and limited role
Despite being re-signed for IPL 2025, Jayant Yadav has seen minimal game time for GT across seasons, often failing to make the Playing XI. As a finger-spinner, he competes with Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar, who offer more utility. Releasing a domestic player with low utilization but a significant price tag would free up a squad slot to invest in an emerging domestic wrist-spinner or a middle-order batter.
3. Ishant Sharma (Pacer)
- Contract Value: INR 75 Lakh (Base Price)
- Reason for Release: Age, declining returns and inefficiency
The veteran pacer was brought in for his experience but had a modest IPL 2025. Playing 7 matches, Ishant picked up only 4 wickets at an expensive economy rate of 11.18. At 37, age and fitness are becoming a concern for maintaining pace and consistency in T20 cricket. While his cost is low, GT needs to prioritize a youthful, high-upside domestic pace attack to complement Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. Releasing him is a strategic move to open a domestic squad slot for emerging Indian fast-bowling talent.
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4. Gerald Coetzee (Overseas Pacer)
- Contract Value: INR 2.40 Crore
- Reason for Release: Inconsistent output and squad optimization
Signed as an overseas pace option, Gerald Coetzee only featured in 4 matches in IPL 2025, taking 2 wickets with an economy rate of 10.92. While he is a promising talent, his inconsistent performances and history of injuries make him a high-risk retention for an overseas slot. The Titans should look to optimize their limited overseas slots for players who are guaranteed match-winners, making Coetzee’s release a move to acquire a more impactful foreign player who can deliver consistent results.
5. Karim Janat (Overseas All-Rounder)
- Contract Value: INR 75 Lakh (Base Price)
- Reason for Release: Minimal utilization and poor impact
The Afghanistan all-rounder was largely underutilized in IPL 2025, playing just 1 match. In that sole appearance, he was extremely expensive, conceding runs at a catastrophic economy rate of 30.00 from his single over, and failed to score with the bat. His minimal on-field utility and high run-conceding spell make his retention unjustifiable. Releasing him will free up both a foreign player slot and a small portion of the purse to target a specialist overseas player with a proven track record in T20 cricket.
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