Gujarat Titans came into the IPL 2026 auction with INR 12.90 crore in their purse and, unlike several other franchises, very few holes to plug. This allowed GT to avoid panic buying and instead focus on depth, flexibility, and role coverage. The result is a squad that may not look flashy on paper but has the ingredients to produce one of the most adaptable XIs in the league.
GT were also one of only two teams to not maximise their overseas quota among IPL 2026 squads, a clear indication that they were prioritising balance over names. Their auction strategy points towards a clear belief: utility players, not specialists, will define the Gujarat Titans Best XI in IPL 2026.
Gujarat Titans Best XI: Why Flexibility Matters More Than Firepower
The likely Gujarat Titans Best XI already looks settled across most positions, but what makes it dangerous is how easily it can be reshaped without weakening either batting or bowling.
With players who can contribute across disciplines, GT can respond to conditions, opposition matchups, and form fluctuations far more smoothly than most teams. That flexibility is driven by a core group of utility players — Jason Holder, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, and Arshad Khan — who collectively give GT multiple tactical levers.
Jason Holder: The Upgrade GT Didn’t Know They Needed
Jason Holder could end up being the most influential GT buy at the IPL 2026 auction, even if it came at a whopping INR 7 crores.
Far from being just a seam-bowling all-rounder, Holder has reinvented himself as a genuine T20 impact player. In 2025, he is the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, while also striking at over 160 with the bat. His transformation was evident during CPL 2025 with St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, where he delivered consistently with both bat and ball.
Holder’s batting numbers underline that growth. In 2025, he scored 832 runs at an average of 24.5 and a strike rate of 159, smashing 61 sixes, the most he has hit in any calendar year. This is a massive leap from his previous returns, where his six-hitting numbers barely crossed the 20s.
Add to that his elite bowling pedigree, including the rare feat of taking four wickets in four consecutive balls in a T20I, and Holder becomes a serious contender to feature regularly in the Gujarat Titans Best XI, either alongside or in place of Glenn Phillips depending on conditions.
Glenn Phillips: Retained For A Reason
Contrary to some expectations, Glenn Phillips was retained by GT, a move that makes far more sense once Sherfane Rutherford was traded out.
Phillips offers exactly what GT value: versatility. He is a powerful middle-order hitter, a reliable finisher, an outstanding fielder, and a part-time offspinner who can deliver overs if required. He can even keep wickets in emergencies. Few players in the league offer that breadth of skills.
In many ways, Phillips is a like-for-like replacement for Rutherford’s role, but with added layers. That makes him a strong contender to lock down a spot in the Gujarat Titans Best XI, especially on batting-friendly surfaces.
Washington Sundar: Filling The Rutherford Gap Differently
Washington Sundar’s evolution as a T20 batter could quietly reshape GT’s middle order.
His 49* off 23 balls against Australia in Hobart in November 2025 was not a one-off cameo but a knock that proved his coming of age as a batter. Washington has added range and power to his game, making him a viable option at No.5, the slot vacated by Rutherford.
GT used Washington primarily as a matchup bowler in 2025, but in IPL 2026, his role could expand significantly. Batting at No.5, alongside Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore forming a spin trio, Washington offers balance that allows GT to play an extra pacer or overseas batter without structural compromises.
This dual growth makes him a key piece in shaping the Gujarat Titans Best XI.
Nishant Sindhu: The Emerging Utility Option
Nishant Sindhu has been seen as a prodigy in the making since his under-19 days, but his recent domestic returns suggest he is closer than ever to breaking into the Gujarat Titans XI.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26, Sindhu was central to Haryana’s run to the final, scoring 303 runs at an average of 33.6 and a strike rate of 166, while also chipping in with four wickets as a matchup spin option. Those batting numbers, in particular, signal a player who has moved beyond being just a bits-and-pieces all-rounder.
If GT want to lean even further into flexibility, Sindhu could emerge as a genuine utility player in the Gujarat Titans Best XI, especially on slower surfaces.
Arshad Khan: Depth With Upside
Arshad Khan adds another layer to GT’s utility-driven thinking.
He made history in SMAT 2025 with figures of 6 for 9, the best-ever in the tournament’s history, and finished the season with 10 wickets in five games. As a left-arm pacer who can swing the new ball and hit big sixes down the order, Arshad provides value beyond raw bowling numbers.
With a career T20 batting strike rate of 148.68, he gives GT the option of lengthening their batting without sacrificing bowling variety.
Gujarat Titans Could Be Dark Horses in IPL 2026
Gujarat Titans may not have chased headlines at the IPL 2026 auction, but they have quietly built one of the most flexible squads in the league. GT’s strength lies not in superstar dependency, but in players who can adapt, cover multiple roles, and allow constant tactical recalibration.
In a long IPL season, that adaptability could be GT’s biggest advantage, and could very well push them towards having the most complete XI in IPL 2026.
