IPL 2026: GT should release Kagiso Rabada and target these three players ahead of auction

Gujarat Titans (GT) have been one of the most consistent teams in recent IPL seasons. The franchise made a dream debut by winning the IPL 2022 title under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final. Since then, GT has remained a strong unit. In IPL 2025, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the GT once again put up a commendable performance, finishing fourth after losing to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator.

Despite their strong campaign, they narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals. Their bowling attack, featuring Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, was impressive for most of the season. However, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada’s underwhelming form stood out as a weak link. With his performances not justifying his hefty price tag, GT might consider releasing him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. To fill his shoes, they could look toward fresh and promising overseas pacers. Here are three players GT could target in the next auction.

Here are 3 potential replacements GT must look at for Kagiso Rabada

Will O’Rourke

New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke made his IPL debut in 2025 as a temporary replacement for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite limited opportunities, the right arm-pacer has showcased good pace and control.

He also enjoyed a decent first tour to India, where the hosts were whitewashed 3-0 for the first time after 12 years. O'Rourke will be eager to prove himself in the next season of the IPL. He is over six feet tall, and uses his height effectively to extract bounce, troubling batters on any surface. His ability to bowl hard lengths and maintain consistency makes him an ideal fit for GT’s bowling unit.