Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and veteran player for the Chennai Super Kings is all set to be named as the batting mentor for the Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL mega-auction.
The Gujarat Titans made their debut back in 2022 when they were named among the two new sides alongside Lucknow Super Giants. The Titans who won the IPL title in their debut season had the likes of Head coach, Ashish Nehra, Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki and great Gary Kirsten serving as their batting consultant.
Kirsten joined Pakistan as their head coach for limited-overs cricket, and as a result, he left his previous role as Gujarat Titans batting consultant. After Kirsten left the Titans side, they faced a sheer setback as they were placed in the 8th spot, after the team had made two final appearances with a title win in the first two seasons.
The unavailability of Hardik Pandya, the skipper who moved to the Mumbai Indians, Mohammad Shami, who missed an entire season, while also Rashid did not have a fully fit display. After this dismaying performance, reports claimed Nehra would part ways with the franchise.
However, Cricbuzz reports suggested that Ashish Nehra, after the initial win of the title, had signed an extension of 3 years of his contract with an annual salary close to INR 8 crore. The Titans executive decided to not part ways with the former coaches, and Indian legendary cricketer Yuvraj Singh was most likely considered for Kirsten’s role in the side.
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The former Gujarat State cricketer did an exemplary job as a scout for Mumbai, and now he can be effective for the Gujarat Titans as well. Patel has tremendous knowledge of domestic cricket, and hence he will be useful to the Titans for building a new side with newer players in the mega-auction.
The team would surely retain the likes of Indian superstar Shubman Gill and Afghan spinner Rashid Khan, though retention of the second player would depend on whether he wants to remain with the side.