Gujarat Titans put on a stellar show in their maiden IPL campaign, lifting the trophy with a comprehensive seven-wicket win against the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.
The Gujarat Titans endured an inspiring run at the IPL 2022, topping the league stage standings, before beating a strong Rajasthan Royals outfit in the Qualifier 1 and the final to lift the trophy.
Throughout the season, they had their key players stepping up even in the most challenging of situations, making them an incredibly tough side to get past. Skipper Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill, who were picked through the initial draft before the mega-auctions, excelled with their match-winning abilities, so too did the experienced Mohammed Shami and David Miller, and the dynamic finisher Rahul Tewatia.
While it does make a lot of sense to retain the entirety of their winning group ahead of next year’s IPL, GT might consider releasing a few of their lesser used players to replace them with better fits.
Here are the players GT would likely let go before IPL 2023
IPL 2022 stats: Two wickets at 26, ER: 10.40, BBI: 2/45
Varun Aaron, who had first caught attention with his fiery pace during his stint with the Delhi Capitals in 2011 and 2012, hasn’t quite made a mark in T20 cricket with 89 wickets at an underwhelming 29.02 and a high economy of 8.61. He was the most expensive bowler in the first of his two IPL 2022 outings, returning 2/45 off four overs in a five-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants, and bowled just one over in the next against DC. GT already have the experienced international trio of Mohammed Shami. Lockie Ferguson and Alzarri Joseph leading their pace attack, to go with Yash Dayal and Pradeep Sangwan, not to forget a fit-again skipper. Hence, it won’t come as a major surprise if Aaron is let go from the squad.
IPL 2022 uncapped XI of the tournament ⬇️
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— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) May 30, 2022
Gurkeerat has never quite been a regular in any of five IPL franchises he’s represented till date, having last played an IPL game back in 2020. The Gujarat Titans’ initial team combination in IPL 2022 didn’t leave a room in the XI for the all-rounder. The Titans have found a reliable finisher in Rahul Tewatia in an already solid middle-order, and with Abhishek Manohar and Sai Sudharsan having shown enough promise, Gurkeerat is likely to be released from the setup.
The young Afghanistan wicketkeeper has shown plenty of promise in his short career thus far, with 1,620 runs at 24.17, while striking them at a brilliant 151.82. He was roped in by the Titans as a replacement for Jason Roy, who had pulled out of the tournament citing the extended bio-bubble challenge. With Wriddhiman Saha having cemented his place as an opener, GT are likely to back Matthew Wade as the backup wicketkeeper despite his poor run, given his overall experience. That could result in the release of the exciting 20-year-old right-hander.
