Gill Sai Buttler Rabada Siraj Rashid The Glaring Gt Gap

Ever since they joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) fold in 2022, Gujarat Titans (GT) have built a reputation as one of the smartest, most methodical franchises in the league. They built their squad around a strong bowling attack, an efficient top-order and... Ever since they joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) fold in 2022, Gujarat Titans (GT) have built a reputation as one of the smartest, most methodical franchises in the league. They built their squad around a strong bowling attack, an efficient top-order and the right balance of experienced Indian and overseas players. Yet, when the dust settles on another season where they remained largely consistent before faltering in the final, GT will be left circling back to the same question they have been asking for a while now: how to build a middle-order that supports the opening duo? Much of the Titans’ identity in IPL 2026 again revolved around two names that have now become synonymous with the franchise: Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Between them, they don’t just open the innings but also form the batting backbone. Gill finished with 732 runs, Sudharsan with 722, and the opposition targeted their wickets more than those of anyone else in the team. Yet, beyond them, the transition between consolidation to late-innings explosion remained GT’s most glaring vulnerability throughout the 2026 edition. Much of that responsibility was expected to be taken by M Shahrukh Khan, acquired for Rs 4 crore at the pre-season auction. But the investment did not translate into impact. In nine matches, he managed just 43 runs at a strike rate of 130.30, numbers that fell far short of expectations. Shahrukh did not feature in the playing XI after April 30, and GT were effectively carrying a passenger when they needed someone more reliable. Rahul Tewatia, once celebrated as a finisher capable of changing matches in a matter of overs, also endured a subdued season. He scored 190 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 143.94, with just one fifty-plus score, that too in a losing cause. He did not bowl a single over in the entire season, thereby limiting his impact significantly; in fact he hasn’t bowled one since IPL 2023. What GT lacked most was not just runs, but intent. Washington Sundar offered stability, scoring 377 runs in 17 matches at 150.20. But while he held the innings together, he lacked the power game required to consistently provide the final flourish in the death overs. Gill and Sudharsan’s consistency masked many of GT’s shortcomings, but on the few occasions when they were dismissed early, like in the final on Sunday, the lack of a dependable middle-order engine became far more visible. The numbers underline the issue. GT’s middle-order produced just 865 runs in IPL 2026, the fewest among all 10 teams, while their strike rate of 143.21 ranked only sixth. They hit just 79 fours and 33 sixes, comfortably the lowest six tally among all sides. By comparison, SunRisers Hyderabad’s middle-order scored