Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has highlighted a potential weakness in the Gujarat Titans (GT) squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. According to Chopra, the franchise may face challenges due to its heavy dependence on the top-order batters, particularly if one of their key players fails to deliver consistently.
The Gujarat-based franchise enjoyed a solid campaign in IPL 2025, reaching the playoffs after impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler at the top of the order. However, their journey ended in the Eliminator after a defeat to the Mumbai Indians, with Buttler unavailable for the match due to national commitments. As the team prepares for the upcoming season, Chopra believes their reliance on the top three could become a vulnerability.
Aakash Chopra explains weakness of Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2026
The success of Gujarat Titans last season was largely built on the consistency of their top-order batters. Captain Gill led from the front, while Sudharsan continued to grow into one of the most reliable young batters in the tournament. Meanwhile, Buttler provided the explosive firepower expected from him in the shortest format.
Chopra noted that the team performed best when the top three managed to bat deep into the innings. When at least one of them stayed at the crease until the middle overs, the Titans were able to build strong platforms for competitive totals.
Chopra explained that the team’s approach worked well last season but could become risky if the top order fails to fire regularly. He pointed out that the ideal scenario for Gujarat Titans is when the top three occupy the crease until the 14th or 15th over, ensuring stability and momentum in the innings. However, relying too heavily on this strategy could leave the middle order exposed if early wickets fall.
“What are their weakenesses? They can be called weaknesses or challenges. A slight overdependence is still seen on the top three. It’s great if they replicate what they did last year, which means the top three together bat till the 14th or 15th over, and at least one of them should 100 percent be there till the 15th over,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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Star batter’s recent form raises concerns
Another factor Chopra highlighted was Buttler’s recent dip in form during the T20 World Cup 2026. The England star had an unusually quiet tournament, scoring only 87 runs in eight innings at an average of 10.88.
For a player known for dominating bowlers across conditions, the numbers were surprising. Chopra remarked that it was rare to see Buttler struggle to such an extent in a World Cup tournament. He also noted that the right-handed batter appeared uncomfortable even on batting-friendly pitches, which raised questions about whether the slump could carry into the IPL season.
According to Chopra, Gujarat Titans would ideally want Buttler to provide explosive starts alongside Gill. However, if the English wicketkeeper-batter continues to struggle, the team might face difficulties at the top of the order.
“However, the truth is that Jos Buttler’s current form is very, very pedestrian. We have not seen Jos Buttler playing more ordinary than this in any World Cup edition. He was seen struggling in good conditions this time. So will that be a bit of an issue for the Gujarat Titans? You want to start with Jos Buttler, but what if the form doesn’t remain good? Both openers can’t score runs every time,” Chopra added.
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