Since last week, Gujarat Titans (GT) has been the focus of attention. The reason for this was that they made one of the largest transactions in league history when they traded their captain and best player, Hardik Pandya, to the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Everyone was taken aback by this decision, and in front of the upcoming season, GT also named Shubman Gill as the team’s new captain. With Hardik gone, GT will need to look for other possibilities. They would consider covering additional squad members as well.
5 players GT will target in IPL 2024 mini-auction
5) Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai (Source: Twitter)
Owing to the fact that all-rounders are highly valued in cricket, Azmatullah Omarzai is expected to be a strong contender during the IPL mini-auctions. Omarzai made his ODI debut in 2021 and has since played brilliantly, amassing 393 runs and claiming 13 wickets across 21 games. Azmatullah has amassed 185 runs and claimed 11 wickets across 24 T20I appearances. His impressive performances in India during the ODI World Cup can lead him to a big deal in the IPL.
4) Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Lockie Ferguson suffered with a hamstring ailment during the season, appearing in only three IPL 2023 games for KKR. He just claimed one wicket with a pitiful average of 96.00 in the three games. The 32-year-old had a brief appearance for New Zealand in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023. He did, however, play a part in the Gujarat Titans’ setup during their first season and win the championship with them in 2022. The franchise intends to reintroduce the speedster, although at a reduced cost.
3) Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey (Source: Twitter)
Manish Pandey is an experienced batsman who can anchor an innings. He is also known for his calm style of play in the middle order. His IPL record demonstrates his ability to form alliances and lead the team through difficult circumstances. Pandey’s steadiness makes him a perfect fit for GT, who wants to strengthen its middle order with Indian players. Pandey is expected to wear the dark blue jersey and make a big contribution to GT’s success in the forthcoming IPL season.
2) Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell (Source: Twitter)
If it comes to consistency, Daryl Mitchell definitely outperforms some of the big names at Gujarat Titans. More importantly, it’s a huge positive that he’s somewhat of a match-winner within the shortest format. The Kiwi can fill in for David Miller in the event that he has a slow season. If not, he can also bat in the middle order in case one of the Indian batters struggles. His form in the Indian sub-continent can surely see him get a mega contract later this month.
1) Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur (Source: Twitter)
The influence of all-rounders may have been reduced by the impact player rule, but speed bowlers who are capable of batting in the bottom order still have a lot of value. Shardul Thakur got released ahead of the scheduled IPL 2024 auction because of his hefty price. However, he will blend quite well with the Gujarat Titans. Thakur may be a valuable asset to GT in every way since the side is renowned for drawing out the best from their players.
