5 GT players who could be released before IPL 2027

The Gujarat Titans (GT), who failed to qualify for the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025, made it into the finals of the 2026 season, where they ended with the runners-up tag, losing the final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at their home venue, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Overall, it was a fine campaign for the Shubman Gill-led side, whose top order and the two premier pacers, Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, were at the top of the reason for their success.

The Titans finished the group stage of the IPL 2026 at the second position of the points table with 18 points due to their nine victories in 14 clashes at a net run rate of +0.695, which included five defeats.

A heartbreaking final, tough calls ahead — Which 5 GT stars could be axed for IPL 2027?

As already mentioned, Sai Sudharsan and Gill were exceptional at the top order of the Titans side. Jos Buttler, despite being out of form for a long time, was able to deliver with the bat, while Rashid Khan and Prasidh Krishna also did well for the Titans with the ball in hand. But their middle order was always in question throughout the season.

The IPL 2022 champions may need to take a few tough decisions on their selection of the squad and could release these five players ahead of the IPL 2027 mini auction-

#1 Rahul Tewatia- 190 runs in 2026

Rahul Tewatia, who once was touted to be the spin all-rounder India might have needed in the shortest format, has turned out to be a bits-and-pieces player since the introduction of the impact player rule. In 15 innings of the IPL 2026, the left-handed batter scored only 190 runs at 27.14 with a strike rate of around 144.

Despite being an all-rounder thanks to his skills of leg spin, Tewatia hasn’t shockingly bowled a single delivery in the league since 2024 and bowled only 49 balls in 2022 and 2023.

That should be enough for the management to release the Haryana player and add up INR 4 crore in the purse.

#2 Shahrukh Khan- 43 runs in IPL 2026

One of the best seasons for Shahrukh Khan came in 2023 for the Punjab Kings when he smashed 156 runs at a strike rate of 166. Since joining the Titans, the franchise hasn’t been able to crack the Tamil Nadu player’s skills in the lower order.

In IPL 2026, the right-handed batter managed just 43 runs in five innings at an average of 10.75 and a strike rate of 130.30, with the best score of 17 runs.

If the Titans decide to leave out the batter, they will get a decent amount of INR 4 crore, with which they may head to a new domestic player in the mini-auction.

#3 Glenn Phillips- 67 runs in IPL 2026

The New Zealand batter, Glenn Phillips, has the skill to do well in the shortest format. He is one of the three Kiwi batters to score a century in all three formats of the game along with Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum. But he hasn’t been able to crack the IPL code yet, with only 132 runs in 13 innings across three seasons and three teams.

In 2026, the right-handed batter managed only 67 runs in five innings at an average of 16.75 and a strike rate of 124.07 with the best score of 25 runs. In his absence, the franchise will add INR 2 crore to the purse.

#4 Ishant Sharma- No IPL game in 2026

Ishant Sharma didn’t feature in a single game of the IPL and carried drinks throughout the season. It’s not clear if he had any injuries, but the management, whenever needed, went for young players, perhaps looking at the future.

The Indian star played in IPL 2025 and picked up four wickets in seven innings of the IPL at an average of 51.25 and an economy rate of 11.80. He has come away from the best of his time, and at an age of around 38, he might not fit in the shortest format anymore.

The Titans may release the veteran Indian pacer and get INR 75 lakh in the purse.

#5 Sai Kishore- 01 wicket in two innings in 2026

It was surprising to see Sai Kishore playing only two games in the entire season of the IPL in 2026, despite going through a strong campaign in 2025 when he collected 19 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 20.68 and an economy rate of 9.24.

In 2026, he picked up one wicket in two innings in 2026 at an average of 46 and an economy rate of 11.50. That perhaps shows the trust in the player from the captain and management. The Titans may release the spinner for INR 2 crore or buy him back at a lower amount.