'They are missing...': IPL-winning coach pinpoints the problem in Gujarat Titans squad after IPL 2025 exit

The Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered a heartbreaking 20-run defeat against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025 eliminator that took place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday. After a poor bowling performance which saw them concede 228 runs in 20 overs, GT failed to chase down the mammoth target and were restricted to 208/6, knocking them out of the competition.

Tom Moody pointed out that GT needed a quality middle-order batter in the team

Following the match, former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody, who guided the side to the IPL title back in 2016, stated that GT needed a quality middle-order batter to fill the void in the side that lost against MI. He also pointed out that their middle-order batters Sherfane Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia failed to do their job of hitting big shots during the end of the innings and this eventually lead to GT's elimination from the tournament.

ALSO READ: 'It will be a tough test, but...': AB de Villiers' message to Shubman Gill-led India for England tour

"I sort of bag Rutherford with Tewatia. I think they both have similar roles. Slightly different players - one is more of a six-hitter than the other. But between them they faced 26 balls today, and hit one six. That, to me, just tells it all. They are batting right at the back end of the innings, where the currency is boundaries. It's either fours or sixes, it's not ones and twos. Currency is boundaries, and that's what they train for. And that was their moment to at least add three to that one, and that may have been the difference," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.

"With regards to their batting, I suppose Washington stepped up here for that particular role, but they are missing a quality Indian top-order/middle-order player that can fill that void. If they can find that, it will certainly make a big difference to the balance of their side," he added.

ALSO READ: 'You have an international coach who is obviously panicking...': Former Gujarat Titans pacer hails Jasprit Bumrah for calming down Mahela Jayawardene

Following the one-week suspension of IPL that took place due to the increase in border tensions between India and Pakistan, the Gujarat-based franchise failed to win their two remaining matches of the league stage and then went on to lose in the playoffs as well.

They first lost to the Lucknow Super Giants by 33 runs before recording a defeat against the Chennai Super Kings by a massive margin of 83 runs. Finally, the defeat against the Mumbai-based franchise sealed their fate and brought an end to their IPL 2025 campaign.