Shubman Gill-Rashid Khan top picks, no place for Mohammed Shami

Gujarat Titans (GT) have modelled themselves in the same group as the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While they are nowhere near in terms of tasting success like MI and CSK, GT have created what they call “family”. You see different players turning up at different stages, and management and individuals have credited the ‘team environment’ all the team. The culture the franchise has created in a small amount of time is truly phenomenal. However, now they face probably their toughest task – IPL 2025 mega retentions.

If we set aside the Hardik Pandya-MI saga, the Titans have kept the majority of their players with them. In fact, as many as 14 players have been part of Gujarat Titans for three consecutive years (IPL 2022 to IPL 2024). And now comes the critical time for the franchise, where they will be allowed to retain just six players at maximum. This will force GT to make tough decisions, something that the franchise has refrained from taking. Below are the retention combinations that, we feel, GT probably would keep on October 31, the IPL 2025 retention deadline date.

GT retention list for IPL 2025

Retention No. 1 (Rs 18 crore) – Shubman Gill
Retention No. 2 (Rs 18 crore) – Rashid Khan
Retention No. 3 (Rs 11 crore) – Sai Sudharsan
Retention No. 4 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – Rahul Tewatia/ Abhinav Manohar/ Mohit Sharma
Retention No. 5 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – Rahul Tewatia/ Abhinav Manohar/ Mohit Sharma
Retention No. 6 (RTM) – Mohammed Shami/ Azmatullah Omarzai/David Miller
Purse spent on retentions: Rs 55 crore
Purse left (assuming the minimum amount is spent) – Rs 65 crore

GT Retentions: Shubman Gill & Rashid Khan at top

New IPL 2025 retention slabs might have done a world of good for Shubman Gill. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) talent was the third draft pick by GT at Rs 8 crore when the franchise came into being. Despite not naturally being an ultra-aggressive player, Gill knows how to pluck away runs as he is the team’s highest run-getter. The current GT skipper has mustered 1,799 runs at a strike rate of 147.70 in 45 innings. Undoubtedly, he would be the first retention pick for GT, with an aim to build the team around Gill’s leadership.

However, Gill might not be the only player to get retained at a hefty price of Rs 18 crore. IPL retentions involve money and players are bound to ask for the price that they deserve. Here comes Rashid Khan, who may not be the designated captain, but is considered the best spinner in the T20 format (if not the best bowler). Hence, he would (fairly) be asking to get retained at the maximum price bracket, i.e., Rs 18 crore. Hence, it is Rs 18 and not Rs 14 crore. Moreover, Rashid is just a few games away from creating history as he is only 19 wickets short from getting the title of the ‘bowler with the most T20 wickets in history’. In 445 T20 innings, he has 613 wickets at a phenomenal economy of 6.48.

More on IPL 2025

GT Retentions: No Mohammed Shami, but Sai Sudharsan?

The biggest surprise of the retention list could be the exclusion of Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer missed the entire IPL 2024 and retaining him for around Rs 14 crore would be a huge, huge punt. In fact, Shami has not played competitive cricket ever since the ODI World Cup 2023 Final. He was supposed to be fit by the New Zealand Test series but failed to recover on time after his surgery. While Shami could be an ideal pick, we feel, GT can invest in future. Already 33, Shami can be looked as an ideal Right To Match (RTM) option instead.

We have included Sai Sudharsan as our third retention picks at Rs 11 crore. Wow! This would mean so much to the Tamil Nadu-born talent, who currently earns just Rs 20 lakh at GT. In fact, he is one of those few players whose salary at TNPL is more than in the IPL. Having been part of the franchise since 2022, Sudharsan has thrived on the backing he has got. Again, he is not a tailor-made T20 talent like Abhishek Sharma, but Sudharsan knows how to build an innings. Case in point, his stellar century against CSK. Sudharsan is the second-highest run-getter for GT, with 1,034 runs at an average of 47.00.

GT Retentions: 2 Uncapped choices, but who?

The IPL 2022 champions, GT could be one of those teams who can ideally opt for two uncapped retentions. BCCI has brought back the old rule that considered capped Indian players who have not represented the Indian team in the last five years (or have not held a central contract with the BCCI for the same period) as uncapped players. And this is where Mohit Sharma’s name could be brought up as the wily pacer last played for India back in 2015. When Shami was ruled out of IPL 2024, it was Mohit Sharma who spearheaded the pace attack.

Abhinav Manohar or Rahul Tewatia?

Mohit is an ideal candidate when it comes to death bowling, with his remarkable skills. He has a career renaissance with GT, having picked up 40 IPL wickets in just 25 innings. In fact, Mohit’s bowling strike rate of 12.47 is the best ever for the franchise (amongst bowlers with at least 10 wkts). Another great uncapped player could be either of Rahul Tewatia or Abhinav Manohar. Both underrated strikers are known to be superb finishers, with Manohar finding his best groove recently.

Manohar had a stupendous KSCA Maharaja Trophy, where he bludgeoned 507 runs at an incredible average and SR of 84.50 and 196.51, respectively. GT can invest in Manohar and could give him that ‘finisher’ role in case they don’t get David Miller back. It won’t be surprising if GT opt to retain Rahul Tewatia as an uncapped pick as well. The fidgety all-rounder has won quite a few games for the franchise, on the back of his ‘clutch’ moments. He can tonk the ball anytime and can even roll his arm over.

GT Retentions: 1 RTM, 5 players

Mohammed Shami, Azmatullah Omarzai, David Miller, Noor Ahmed and Shahrukh Khan—GT can use their one remaining RTM card on any of these players. That’ll depend on who they want and how the auction dynamics pan out on D-Day.

GT’s Current Squad as of IPL 2024

Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson, Mohammed Shami, Robin Minz.