Gujarat Titans (GT) have faced challenges this IPL season, encountering four losses in 2025. In two of these matches, they struggled to chase daunting targets—Punjab Kings (PBKS) posted 243 for 5, while Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) put up 235 for 2. In the other two, their otherwise strong batting lineup delivered below-par scores. Varun Aaron attributes these issues primarily to their third and fourth seamers, whose shortcomings have often been masked by the squad’s stellar batting.
In Thursday’s encounter, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna formed the core of GT’s seam attack. Arshad Khan, serving as the fourth seamer, conceded 36 runs in three overs. Rashid Khan proved even more expensive. Throughout the season, GT’s mainstays Prasidh, Siraj, Rashid, and R Sai Kishore have appeared consistently, while Arshad, Ishant Sharma, and Kulwant Khejroliya have been variable contributors with mixed results.
On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Varun Aaron remarked, “The biggest problem GT have had throughout the whole season… is their third [or fourth] seamer.” He noted that the frequent changes and the expense of players like Ishant, Arshad, and Khejroliya have left GT vulnerable against aggressive opponents targeting this part of their attack.
A pressing concern is Rashid Khan’s form. His typically tight economy has slipped to 9.38, yielding only eight wickets. Prior to this, his highest economy rate was 8.40 in 2024, and between 2017 and 2022, it never exceeded 6.73.
In the latest match, Rashid entered the attack rather late, in the 12th over, only when Mitchell Marsh was nearing a century. By that point, Sai Kishore and Rashid together had bowled five overs for 70 runs with just one wicket, which Sai Kishore claimed.
Tom Moody, Aaron’s co-panellist, offered his perspective, suggesting that GT should not overanalyse the loss. “It was late,” Moody observed of Rashid’s introduction. “Normally you see Rashid come in when you’re in desperate need to strike. But that tells you maybe something about where the confidence is… But Sai Kishore, you can’t take too much away from him. He got the nod ahead of Rashid. He’s still a very crafty bowler. But he was hit by a tidal wave today.”
As the playoffs loom, GT must address these bowling concerns to complement their formidable batting and bolster their chances for the finals.
