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Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Preview: Squad, Auction & Fixtures

Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Preview: Squad, Auction & Fixtures

Gujarat Titans fans have plenty to look forward to as IPL 2026 draws closer. This franchise walked into the league in 2022 and won the trophy in its debut year, a feat that instantly built a loyal following across Gujarat and beyond. Since then, Gujarat Titans has stayed consistent, reaching another final in 2023 and finishing third in the league stage during 2025.

This article covers the quick facts, ownership structure, confirmed fixtures, retained players, auction buys, and full squad list for the upcoming season. Every detail below comes straight from verified sources, so fans get accurate information instead of outdated rumors floating around social media.

Quick Facts About the Franchise

DetailInformation
CaptainShubman Gill
Vice CaptainRahul Tewatia
CoachAshish Nehra
Majority OwnerTorrent Group (67%)
Minority OwnerCVC Capital Partners (33%)
Home GroundNarendra Modi Stadium
IPL Trophy1 (2022)

A Note on Ownership

Gujarat Titans operated under the entity name Irelia Sports India Private Limited during its early seasons under full CVC ownership. That entity has since been renamed to Torrent Gujarat Titans Private Limited, reflecting Torrent Group’s 2025 acquisition of the majority stake. CVC Capital Partners still holds a 33% share and continues contributing global sports expertise from its past investments in Formula One and La Liga.

Franchise History and Home Ground

Gujarat Titans are Ahmedabad-based and have all their home matches in the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium in terms of capacity. The franchise entered the IPL under an expansion in 2021 and became the champions in its inaugural year under the captainship of Hardik Pandya. 

Achievements So Far

  • Won the IPL title in 2022, the franchise’s debut season.
  • Reached the final again in 2023 but lost to Chennai Super Kings.
  • Finished third in the IPL 2025 league stage before a playoff exit.
  • Plays every home game in front of over 130,000 fans.

This image was earned by Gujarat Titans via clever auction selections and process-driven, straightforward cricket as opposed to big-time spending and that trend is rolling on into the second season. 

Team Leadership Going Into IPL 2026

Shubman Gill remains captain of the team Gujarat Titans, and Rahul Tewatia is this season looking after the post of vice-captain. The coach Ashish Nehra continues in the same role as he did when the franchise was incepted.

Gill replaced Hardik Pandya as the captain in an all-cash deal to the Mumbai Indians. Now, he has matured into an unflinching, tactically astute leader with a good reading of match situations. The experience that Teawatia has had in various seasons means he is a perfect match for the deputy position, providing Gujarat Titans with a solid leadership team going into the new season. 

Confirmed IPL 2026 Fixtures

The opening phase of fixtures was announced by the BCCI, and the remaining calendar is yet to be ratified because of state election dates in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam. The confirmed Gujarat Titans schedule up to now is given below. 

MatchDateTime (IST)VenueTeams
Match 1March 31 (Tue)7:30 PMNew ChandigarhPBKS vs GT
Match 2April 4 (Sat)7:30 PMNarendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadGT vs RR
Match 3April 8 (Wed)7:30 PMArun Jaitley Stadium, New DelhiDC vs GT
Match 4April 12 (Sun)3:30 PMBharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, LucknowLSG vs GT

Gujarat Titans open the season on the road against Punjab Kings, then return home to face Rajasthan Royals on April 4. Early travel often tests bench strength, so how the squad performs in these opening matches could shape momentum for the rest of the tournament.

Player Retention Strategy for the New Season

Gujarat Titans retained 19 players ahead of the mini-auction, including seven overseas players, one of the highest retention counts across the league this year. This decision reflects strong trust in the existing core rather than a push to rebuild from scratch.

Key Retained Players

  • Shubman Gill, continuing as captain and top-order batter.
  • Rahul Tewatia, now serving as vice-captain and middle-order all-rounder.
  • Rashid Khan, the leading spin option and a proven match-winner.
  • Sai Sudharsan, a consistent run-scorer at the top of the order.
  • Jos Buttler, the primary wicketkeeper-batter.
  • Mohammed Siraj, the leading pace bowling option.

Players Released Before the Auction

  • Mahipal Lomror
  • Karim Janat
  • Dasun Shanaka
  • Gerald Coetzee
  • Kulwant Khejroliya
  • Sherfane Rutherford, traded to Mumbai Indians

Keeping this many players together lets the coaching staff fine-tune specific roles instead of building chemistry from scratch, and that approach clearly worked during the title-winning 2022 season.

Mini-Auction Buys and Purse Details

Gujarat Titans entered the auction with ₹12.9 crore remaining and five vacant slots, four of which were reserved for overseas signings. Rather than chasing every big name available, the management targeted specific gaps in the squad.

Notable Auction Purchases

  • Jason Holder, signed for ₹7 crore as an all-round option.
  • Tom Banton, signed for ₹2 crore as backup wicketkeeper.
  • Luke Wood, added to strengthen the pace bowling unit.
  • Ashok Sharma, another pace bowling addition.
  • Prithviraj Yarra, picked as a domestic uncapped bowler.

This spending pattern shows a franchise that already understands its strengths well enough to avoid unnecessary purchases outside its exact needs.

Complete Squad List for the Upcoming Season

Below is the full squad list for Gujarat Titans heading into the new IPL season, covering batters, wicketkeepers, all-rounders and bowlers.

Player NameRole
Shubman GillBatter
Jos ButtlerWK-Batter
Kumar KushagraWK-Batter
Anuj RawatWK-Batter
Tom BantonWK-Batter
Glenn PhillipsBatter
Nishant SindhuAll-Rounder
Washington SundarAll-Rounder
Mohd. Arshad KhanAll-Rounder
Sai KishoreAll-Rounder
Jayant YadavAll-Rounder
Jason HolderAll-Rounder
Sai SudharsanAll-Rounder
Shahrukh KhanAll-Rounder
Kagiso RabadaBowler
Mohammed SirajBowler
Prasidh KrishnaBowler
Manav SutharBowler
Gurnoor Singh BrarBowler
Ishant SharmaBowler
Ashok SharmaBowler
Prithvi Raj YarraBowler
Luke WoodBowler
Rahul TewatiaBowler
Rashid KhanBowler

Home Advantage at Narendra Modi Stadium

Narendra Modi Stadium plays a genuine role in shaping how Gujarat Titans performs each season. The ground holds around 132,000 spectators, and the noise on match day creates real pressure for visiting teams. Dew often settles in during the second innings under lights, which tends to favor bowlers who use the new ball early.

Local fans treat every home fixture as a city-wide event. Roads near the stadium fill up hours before the toss, and nearby businesses see a noticeable rise in footfall on match days. That kind of consistent local support gives the team a real edge, something reflected in stronger results at this venue compared to away grounds.

What Lies Ahead for the Franchise

Expect stronger data-driven scouting going forward, a natural extension of CVC’s background in global sports investment. With Torrent Group now steering major decisions, fan engagement and commercial tie-ups across Gujarat should keep expanding. On the field, fresh pace additions like Luke Wood and Ashok Sharma suggest the management wants more firepower for both home and away conditions in the seasons ahead.

Gujarat Titans head into the new season with a settled squad, updated ownership backing and a leadership pair that already knows how to handle big moments. The retention-heavy approach shows real confidence in a group that came close to another deep playoff run last year, and the auction picks fill precise gaps instead of forcing unnecessary overhauls. With the campaign opening against Punjab Kings on March 31, Gujarat Titans has strong reasons to stay competitive through another demanding season.

Conclusion

Gujarat Titans head into IPL 2026 with a settled squad, fresh ownership backing, and a leadership group that already knows how to win. The retention-heavy strategy shows real confidence in a core that nearly went all the way in 2025, and the auction buys fill exact gaps rather than forcing unnecessary changes. With the season kicking off on March 31 against Punjab Kings, GT fans have solid reasons to expect another strong campaign built on stability, home-ground advantage, and proven match-winners who already know how to handle pressure moments.

FAQs

1. Who owns Gujarat Titans currently? 

Torrent Group holds 67%, and CVC Capital Partners holds 33%.

2. Who captains Gujarat Titans this season? 

Shubman Gill leads the team as captain.

3. Who is the vice-captain of GRahul Tewatia serves as vice-captain.ujarat Titans? 

4. Who coaches Gujarat Titans? 

Ashish Nehra serves as head coach.

5. Where does Gujarat Titans play home matches? 

The team plays at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

6. How many IPL titles has Gujarat Titans won? 

The franchise has won one title, in 2022.

7. When does the new season start for Gujarat Titans? 

The season opens against Punjab Kings on March 31.

8. How many players did Gujarat Titans retain? 

The team retained 19 players, including seven overseas.

9. What purse did Gujarat Titans have for the auction? 

The franchise entered the auction with ₹12.9 crore remaining.

10. Did Gujarat Titans reach the playoffs last season? 

Yes, the team finished third but lost in the playoffs.

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