Gujarat Titans had a remarkable journey to the title in 2022 and came agonizingly close to defending their crown in 2023. However, this season has been a disappointment for them. Despite topping the group stages in the first two years, they find themselves knocked out before the final game.
Losing Key Players
Several factors contributed to their slump. The departure of captain Hardik Pandya might have disrupted their rhythm, while the absence of Mohammed Shami could also have been felt. Additionally, the fluctuating form of Shubman Gill, who was instrumental last year, may have magnified their struggles this season.
Gill’s performance had a significant impact on the team dynamics. Despite starting the season strongly and showcasing promise with 255 runs in his first six games at a strike rate of 151.78, his form dipped midway through. In his next five games, he managed only 67 runs at a slower pace.
This decline starkly contrasted with his exceptional performance last year, where he scored 890 runs and three centuries. His consistency, impressive strokeplay, and improved ability to hit sixes (33 sixes, the third-highest) made him an indispensable asset. However, this season, his mixed returns affected GT’s top order, especially during powerplays, where they had the lowest run rate of 7.23.
Adding to their woes, Wriddhiman Saha, who provided quick starts in the previous season with 371 runs, also struggled with poor form. These collective issues in the top order significantly impacted Gujarat Titans’ performance in the ongoing season.
This season, Saha has struggled with an average of 15.11, the lowest among all openers who have played at least nine innings in the powerplay. His absence in the game against CSK resulted in Sai Sudharsan opening the innings instead of playing at No. 3.
While Sudharsan has been consistent in scoring runs this season, he has faced challenges in the powerplay, particularly against pace. His strike rate of 114 in this phase was the lowest among batters with nine innings.
However, Sudharsan showcased his potential in the match against CSK, scoring 103 off 51 balls. Despite a slow start in the powerplay, he accelerated impressively during the middle overs, addressing one of GT’s weaknesses. Although Sudharsan has surpassed 500 runs, there will be discussions regarding his performance in the powerplay, an aspect he acknowledges needs improvement.
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Middle-Order Confusion
In the absence of Hardik Pandya, who played a crucial role in the middle order in the previous seasons, GT has faced difficulties in finding the right balance. Hardik’s contributions as a batter, particularly at No. 4, helped absorb pressure and allowed other players like David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, and Rashid Khan to finish games. His absence has been felt, with GT struggling to replicate the same level of performance.
Last season, Vijay Shankar contributed significantly in the middle order for Gujarat Titans, scoring 301 runs in ten innings. However, this season, he struggled for form and lost his place in the team halfway through. Shahrukh Khan, a high-profile auction acquisition, entered the squad when they were already facing a decline.
Azmatullah Omarzai, brought in as an all-rounder to provide balance, failed to make the desired impact with the bat, managing only 42 runs in four innings.
David Miller was entrusted with a larger role in the middle order but could only muster one half-century this season. His struggles, particularly during the middle overs where he struck at just 123, were evident. Similarly, Rahul Tewatia also found it challenging to accelerate the scoring rate, striking at 77 in the middle phase of the innings.
Despite accumulating resources in the middle order, Gujarat Titans failed to capitalize on strong finishes, ranking ninth in the death overs. Their batting performances across all phases of the game lagged behind other teams, placing excessive pressure on their bowlers
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Injuries Compound the Problems
Injuries further exacerbated the team’s imbalance. The absence of Robin Minz, a power-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman, forced them to persist with Saha as an opener. Additionally, the injury replacement, BR Sharath, featured in only one game. In total, Gujarat Titans utilized 23 players, the highest by any team this season.
The absence of Mohammed Shami, who was instrumental last season with his hard length and pronounced seam movement, was deeply felt. Shami’s exceptional performance in the powerplay last season, with 17 wickets at an average of 19.41 and an economy of 7.5, posed a significant threat to opposition batsmen. However, his prolonged recovery from an ankle injury ruled him out for this season.
Consequently, Gujarat Titans had to experiment with their bowling options, including deploying Mohit Sharma, their designated death-overs specialist, in the powerplay. While Sandeep Warrier, Shami’s replacement, showed glimpses of promise, Umesh Yadav’s season was marred by inconsistency. Spencer Johnson, one of their high-priced auction signings, struggled to find swing and leaked runs.
Overall, the Gujarat Titans suffered significantly from Mohit Sharma’s decline in effectiveness during the death overs. Despite boasting the best economy rate in the death overs last year, largely due to Mohit’s contributions, the team struggled to contain runs in the same phase this season.
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Mohit Sharma’s Decline in Effectiveness
Initially, Mohit performed well, claiming eight wickets in his first six games at an economy rate of 9.39. His match-winning spells against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased his value to the team. However, he experienced a downturn in the middle of the season, highlighted by conceding 73 runs without taking a wicket in four overs against Delhi Capitals – the most expensive figures in the IPL. Although he bounced back with a notable performance of 3 for 31 against CSK, by then, GT’s playoff chances were slim.
Another challenge for GT has been the reduced impact of Rashid Khan. Despite being one of the premier spinners in the league, Rashid has struggled to pick up wickets consistently, managing only 12 wickets in ten matches this season. Teams have also become more aggressive against him, perhaps due to the Impact Player rule, which allows them to strengthen their batting lineup. This shift in approach is reflected in Rashid’s higher economy rate of 8.30 in the last two seasons compared to his economy of 6.59 during their championship-winning campaign in 2022.
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Reduced Impact of Rashid Khan
This season, Rashid Khan has experienced challenges unlike any other in his IPL career. He has recorded an economy rate of ten or more in a match four times, a statistic unprecedented in his IPL journey. Additionally, for the first time since his IPL debut in 2017, Rashid has remained wicketless in three consecutive games. Rashid himself has acknowledged the impact of a back surgery he underwent before the season, which has affected his performance on the field.
In an interview with the Cricket Monthly, Rashid explained, “It did initially in the first few games… Like, when I was bowling my wrong’un, it wasn’t going how it should, because for that I had to use my back more than for leg spin. I had that nagging doubt at the back of my mind, so even if there was a bit of stiffness in my back, I would get scared.”
These persistent injury concerns have affected Rashid’s execution on the field, as seen when he was hit for 29 runs, including four sixes, by Will Jacks in an over during a match against RCB, contributing to their easy victory in Ahmedabad.
