GT’s IPL 2026 review: So close yet so far again

Gujarat Titans powered through the 2026 IPL season, pushing hard into the championship match. Yet here we are again, just like last year, fate took a familiar turn. This time, Royal Challengers Bengaluru stayed cool under pressure, shutting the door firmly in the decisive game. Dreams of another title slipped away quietly, vanishing in the final overs.

That 2026 run by GT nearly looked like last year all over again. A red-hot start from the top batsmen, doing most of the work. Meanwhile, a foreign fast bowler shouldered the bulk of the seam effort.

Even without lifting the trophy, joy found its way to GT, two straight seasons cracking 700 runs by their lead batters opened eyes. Their top South African fast bowler then lit up the field, chasing wickets like a storm in cleats.

The Big Positives: GT’s Top-order masterclass

Winning nine times across fourteen games, the Gujarat Titans arrived at the playoffs looking strong. Even though Royal Challengers Bangalore beat them twice, once in Qualifier 1, again in the final, that doesn’t dull what they achieved. The team’s leadership will still see this campaign as a clear success.

What stood out most in GT’s season?

It was how much they leaned on Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Together, their scores made up more than six-tenths of what the whole team managed. One pair carried such a heavy load. Numbers like that don’t come often. Their partnership shaped nearly every chase. Match after match, it played out the same way. The rest struggled to keep pace. These two just kept delivering. Runs piled up fast when either one faced. Bowling attacks looked powerless. A full squad depended so heavily on two batsmen.

Out front, the captain carried his bat through most innings. That effort added up - Shubman Gill topped everyone with 732 runs for the team. Leadership showed in every knock he played.

Stability found its home again at the top, thanks to Sai Sudharsan. Not just repeating past form, he pushed beyond, clearly showing that 2025 was no fluke when another season of 700-plus runs unfolded. Twin anchor, more like a steady force, no one saw slowing down.

Even if Jos Buttler didn’t unleash his most explosive form, he managed 526 runs when they needed him. Yet those numbers mattered just the same.
Washington Sundar turned out to be the unexpected highlight. Moving higher in the batting lineup, he grabbed his chances without hesitation. His bat sang through 377 runs, fueled by three vital fifties that shifted momentum quietly but firmly.

Out past the leading four, most of the lineup stayed quiet. Only one more hitter reached three digits that year, Rahul Tewatia, steady in the middle. His grit showed when he scored 68, battling hard against RCB in Qualifier 1, though it didn’t change the outcome.

Also read: IPL 2026 player ratings: Every South African cricketer ranked

GT Batting Statistics

One shaky start might unravel everything. Though the top batters carry the team well, depending so heavily on just a few becomes risky. If they fall fast one day, those coming later may face pressure without enough preparation. The strength at the front hides what happens when it suddenly breaks.

Bowling Analysis: Kagiso Rabada roars, Rashid Khan seeks old magic

When it came to bowling, Kagiso Rabada stood out clearly for GT. The South African quick proved every bit worth his 10.75 crore investment by topping the charts with 29 wickets. Though sharing the pace attack with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, it was Rabada who carried the load most often. He ran in tirelessly, delivering 64.4 overs throughout the tournament. Each time his skipper turned to him, he found a way to break through.

Back on track, Rashid Khan grabbed 21 wickets this term. Though far better than his rough patch in 2025, the Afghan star didn’t quite bring that old suffocating grip batters once dreaded.

Most of the bowling group held things together well, even when costs climbed now and then. Eleven times out on the field, Jason Holder made each chance count through smart, steady work. Speed came in bursts from Siraj and Krishna, though boundaries slipped away more than preferred.

GT Bowling Statistics

GT's next auction talks might circle back to that shaky spin lineup again. Rashid Khan stood alone as others stumbled through the fog. Out of step, Sai Kishore watched from the sidelines, his 2025 fire forgotten, one scalp in three matches telling the tale. Washington Sundar swung the bat like a dream, yet his bowling arm stayed idle, fewer than ten overs stretched thin over weeks.

The Verdict

One more time, the Gujarat Titans showed how well they fit the blueprint for making deep runs in the IPL. Their game sticks together, bringing consistent results. But shifting from constant contenders to actual winners needs change. For the next step by 2027, spreading strength through the middle batsmen matters. So does landing a reliable spinner who can stand beside Rashid Khan.

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