IPL 2027: 3 Gujarat Titans players who could be released ahead of the next season
Jos Buttler during a training session for Gujarat Titans (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 02 Jun 2026, 11:16 AM• Read time - 2 mins
Barring the disappointment of falling short in the final, Gujarat Titans (GT) enjoyed a memorable IPL 2026 campaign. They finished second on the points table, level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and secured a berth in Qualifier 1. Yet when it mattered most, GT faltered, looking ordinary against the eventual champions in both the Qualifier and the final.
With IPL 2026 now behind them, GT must hit the reset button and address their shortcomings if they are to avoid missing out on silverware by the barest of margins next season. Here are three players who could be released ahead of the IPL 2027 auction:
1. Jos Buttler
On paper, Jos Buttler’s IPL 2026 numbers look impressive: 526 runs at an average of 37.57 and a strike rate of 152.46, including four fifties. But the story changes when you examine his performances in GT’s defeats.
Across the seven games GT lost, Buttler managed just 199 runs at 28.43 and a strike rate of 144.20. He could only manage a 29 in Qualifier 1 when RCB piled up a mammoth total, and laboured to a 23‑ball 19 at a strike rate below 100 in the final when GT needed him to bail them out of crisis.
For a senior player, failing to stand tall in crunch situations is a glaring weakness. Coupled with his hefty price tag of INR 15.75 crore, GT may consider releasing him and attempting to buy him back at a lower price in the auction.
2. Masood Shahrukh Khan
Retained for INR 4 crore, Masood Shahrukh Khan was expected to be GT’s lower‑order enforcer. Instead, he endured a forgettable season, accumulating just 43 runs in five innings at an average of 10.75 and a strike rate of 130.30.
His inability to deliver left GT’s batting order exposed, and he was eventually dropped after nine matches. With expectations unmet and balance disrupted, GT may decide it is time to pull the plug.
3. Rahul Tewatia
GT retained Rahul Tewatia as an allrounder, but his role shrank dramatically in IPL 2026. The management showed little faith in his bowling, not handing him a single over throughout the season.
As a batter alone, he produced 190 runs at 27.14 with a strike rate of 143.93. Steady but far from match‑winning, his contributions did not justify retention. Without the dual value of his bowling, Tewatia’s case for staying on weakens considerably.
GT’s campaign was strong but flawed, undone by key players failing to deliver in decisive moments. Releasing high‑priced or underperforming names could give them the flexibility to rebuild smarter and stronger for IPL 2027.
