Former India selector Kris Srikkanth criticised Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 auction strategy, stating that the franchise failed to address its long-standing middle-order issues.
GT heavily relied on their top three batters in IPL 2025, with Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler scoring the bulk of the team’s runs.
The Titans qualified for the playoffs largely due to top-order performances, while the middle order struggled to make consistent contributions.
Srikkanth pointed out that GT missed the chance to target proven middle-order batters, citing Liam Livingstone as an ideal fit who was instead picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Ahead of the auction, GT had five slots to fill, including four overseas spots, and added Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Ashok Sharma, and Prithvi Raj Yarra.
GT’s middle-order woes worsened further after Sherfane Rutherford, their fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2025, was traded to Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2026 season.