Gujarat Titans (GT) is set for major changes ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. Head coach Ashish Nehra and Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki who helped Hardik Pandya-led GT win the IPL title in their debut season are likely to leave the franchise.
As per a report by News18, India's T20 World Cup 2007 World Cup-winner Yuvraj Singh is being considered for the role. Several changes are expected in the backroom staff as their mentor Gary Kirsten is currently the head coach of Pakistan's limited-overs teams. With ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to be played in February-March, he won’t be joining GT.
“Lot of changes on the cards. Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki are highly likely to move on and discussions around Yuvraj Singh have already begun. Nothing is finalised right now but there could be some major changes in the coaching staff of the Gujarat Titans,” a source told News18.
Yuvraj who made his last IPL appearance in 2019 for Mumbai Indians (MI), has played 132 games in the cash-rich league. The all-rounder has 2,750 runs at an average of 24.77 including 13 fifties. With the ball, he has 36 wickets including two hat-tricks.
Others who are part of GT's coaching setup are Aashish Kapoor, Naeem Amin, Narender Negi and Mithun Manhas. The franchise is likely to finalise its coaching staff before the mega auction.
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GT’s disappointing season
After Hardik went back to MI in a controversial transfer, GT failed to qualify for the playoffs under Shubman Gill's leadership. Mohammed Shami's absence due to injury was one of the main reasons behind GT's lacklustre show along with two matches getting washed out due to rain. Despite a disappointing season, India’s T20I vice-captain Gill will lead the side next season.
Increase in retained players’ list may be on cards
Meanwhile, the number of players a franchise is allowed to retain before the mega auction is yet to be revealed. The representatives of all the IPL franchise will meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the same. So far, it has been reported that some franchise have demanded eight retentions in order to keep their core group intact.
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