Ashish Nehra Reveals Gujarat Titans’ Strategy for IPL 2026 Auction

GT Coach Ashish Nehra stated the Gujarat Titans would enter the IPL auction with a flexible approach.

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said his team will enter the IPL 2026 auction with an “open mind.” The Titans have a remaining purse of Rs 12.90 crore and need to fill only five slots.

This is in contrast to teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 64.30 crore) and Chennai Super Kings (Rs 43.40 crore), who are undergoing major rebuilds. The mini-auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

A Settled Core Squad For GT

Nehra explained the team’s comfortable position. “Our core team is set and we have released only 4-5 players. So, we go into the auction with a very open mind. See, when you are making a team from scratch, like last year, it was a different kind of strategy,” he said.

He highlighted the advantage of having a settled lineup. “But right now, pretty much all the slots are filled. So, we’ll see what we get, the kind of purse we have because other teams have so much purse. So, you have to go with the flow during the auction,” Nehra added.

The Titans’ first-choice lineup, when fit, includes Jos Buttler, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj. Options for the final slot include all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Washington Sundar.

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Nehra reiterated the team’s flexibility. “Like I said earlier, we go with an open mind. Our team is set. Rahul Tewatia, Shah Rukh Khan, Washington Sundar, and so many middle order batsmen already.”

He concluded by noting the market dynamics. “If I’m not wrong, the highest purse, CSK has it. But they also need players. So, we are sitting in a very comfortable position.”