Gujarat Giants secured the championship in their inaugural season, finished as runners-up in their second, and subsequently fell to eighth place in their third season. The remarkable influence of Hardik Pandya, along with his exceptional contributions with both bat and ball, played a significant role in their initial two seasons, and his absence was keenly felt in the third.

Prior to the mega auction last year, GT made the decision to release several players, including Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, David Miller, and Noor Ahmad. During the auction, they aggressively pursued the acquisition of Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, and Glenn Phillips. With Rashid Khan already part of the team, GT's roster of international players for the season appears well-established. They also added Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to their lineup, but it remains to be seen if they can replicate the substantial impact that Mohit had. Overall, GT was generally regarded as having a successful auction.

Strength: A well-rounded squad

Gujarat Titans have effectively addressed every aspect necessary for a successful T20 team. They boast a formidable top order featuring captain Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan, alongside several exceptional finishers such as Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, and Glenn Phillips, with Rashid Khan also poised to contribute significantly. Rashid is anticipated to perform at his usual high level with the ball, although it is worth mentioning that he did not have his best season last year. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna present strong bowling options, with Siraj having the potential to secure victories single-handedly on his best days. Nevertheless, it is likely that the Titans will focus on integrating their South African players, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee, into the same playing eleven.

Weakness: Lack of a clear replacement for David Miller; loss in form

The latter of the two points discussed in this subheading is perhaps better characterized as a vulnerability rather than a weakness. On paper, GT boasts some genuinely promising prospects across various areas, and they performed reasonably well in that regard last season as well. However, only two teams ended up with a lower ranking than them. More crucially, it remains uncertain how GT plans to fill the void left by David Miller. The South African's capacity to both construct innings and finish them effectively made him a distinctive asset within the GT lineup, and none of the current batters, including Buttler, have demonstrated that level of adaptability.

Prediction

GT has undoubtedly formed one of the most balanced teams in preparation for the 2025 IPL. The key players within this squad have demonstrated impressive performance in their recent matches. It would be quite unexpected if this team does not emerge as a strong contender for a top-two finish in the league phase and secure a spot in the final.

Gujarat Titans Full Squad: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Sherfane Rutherford, Mahipal Lomror, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Washington Sundar, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Kulwant Khejroliya, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.

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