Former Chennai Super Kings batsman Anirudha Srikkanth believes a Kolkata Knight Riders star could be the missing piece in Gujarat Titans’ batting lineup for the 2026 IPL season. Despite another strong campaign that saw them reach the playoffs for the third time in four years, Gujarat Titans’ middle-order troubles were evident throughout the 2025 season. Their top three, featuring the electric Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, all crossed the 500-run mark, but the rest of the batting group struggled to make an impact. Speaking on Star Sports ahead of the retention deadline, Anirudha said, “An ideal fit for GT will be Venkatesh Iyer. He has gone for 23.75 crores so KKR will surely release him. He will be perfect for GT at the No. 4 position. GT have all the other positions covered. No other position is free. GT is actually a very settled team. They are only missing a batter in that position.” Venkatesh Iyer endured a difficult 2025 season with KKR, managing just 142 runs in 11 matches. His form, coupled with KKR’s inconsistent campaign, saw the team finish eighth in the standings with only five wins. However, the left-hander has previously been one of KKR’s most reliable performers. He played a key role in their title-winning run in 2024, scoring 370 runs at a strike rate close to 159, and had also racked up his highest total of 404 runs in the 2023 season.
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Earlier, former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden had also pointed out Gujarat’s over-reliance on their top order. “Gujarat Titans have a fantastic top order with captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who were the highest-scoring opening pair last season. However, their middle order struggled heavily, with only Jos Buttler performing consistently,” the Australian said on JioStar. GT, who finished third in the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches, are expected to make key adjustments at the mini-auction. Strengthening their middle order remains the team’s top priority heading into IPL 2026.
