Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra went on to pick the final playing 12 for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026. He picked Glenn Phillips over West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, despite his terrific performance in the T20 World Cup 2026.
The Gujarat Titans had retained a total of 20 players ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. They bought Ashok Sharma, the paceman, alongside the likes of Tom Banton, Prithviraj Yarra, and Luke Wood in the mini-auction. However, their best pick remained the West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder.
After having revealed their weakness in the form of their top order, since they are not in great touch this time around, the top three have done the majority of the scoring for the Titans in the last season. Buttler scored 500+ runs, Gill scored 600+ runs, and lastly, Sai Sudharsan was the highest scorer with 750+ runs.
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“So I am keeping the No. 4 position as a floater at the moment,” said Aakash Chopra
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra picked the Gujarat Titans’ probable playing combination in the upcoming edition of the IPL 2026. He has kept the no. 4 position in the Shubman Gill-led side as a floater.
“If I see this team’s XI, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler will start as the top three. Kumar Kushagra is coming with great form. Shahrukh Khan is present as an option. They might find a new role for Washington Sundar at No. 4. So I am keeping the No. 4 position as a floater at the moment,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The wicket-keeper batter from Jharkhand has been on a dream run in the domestic tournaments and is most likely to find his way through to the Gujarat Titans team. He can be monumental to the middle order, especially with Sherfane Rutherford no longer a part of the Titans side.
Aakash Chopra picks Glenn Phillips over Jason Holder
Speaking of the middle order, Aakash Chopra felt that Glenn Phillips, who has been part of the Titans squad but could not play a single game, should finally be unleashed this season. He picked Glenn Phillips over the likes of Jason Holder in the middle order, as Titans would be in the quest for players who can help stabilize the middle order.
“If you keep Glenn Phillips at No. 5 and Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada after that, then Shahrukh, Anuj Rawat, Arshad Khan and Sai Kishore can all be in the impact player list.
“Jason Holder might actually play ahead of Glenn Phillips, but my vote is for Glenn Phillips because the top three might not be able to do what they did last year, considering Buttler’s form,” he observed.
Phillips came in handy in the middle order for them, while Jason Holder showed some remarkable skill to finish the innings. While Phillips would be essential to hold the middle order together, the Titans have been lacking a player who could give them a strong finish.
Aakash Chopra picks the highest run-getter and wicket-taker for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
The cricketer-turned commentator stated that Shubman Gill might be the highest scorer for them in 2026. On the other hand, he predicted that not Prasidh Krishna, but either Mohammad Siraj or Rashid Khan would be the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
“Who could be the Gujarat Titans’ highest run-scorer? I think it will be Shubman Gill one more time. Who can take the most wickets? It can’t be Prasidh Krishna two back-to-back years. So either Mohammed Siraj or Rashid Khan,” Chopra stated.
Prasidh Krishna was the highest wicket-taker last season with 25 scalps to his name; on the other hand, Sai Sudharsan was the highest run-getter with 759 runs at a strike rate of 156.17.
Though Aakash Chopra felt that it is very difficult to replicate the previous season’s formula successfully, the Gujarat Titans can still win the middle-overs battle with their fast bowling unit operating closely with spinners Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore.
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