Gujarat Titans Stars Who Can Take Retirement After IPL 2026

Gujarat Titans [Source: AFP]

As IPL 2026 is about to begin, the Gujarat Titans look like a team that knows what it wants to achieve. Led by captain Shubman Gill, the one-time IPL champions will aim to win the trophy again this season. The team has a good mix of young players and experienced stars, which makes them a strong side going into the tournament.

Notably, Gujarat Titans won the title in 2022 and finished as runners-up in 2023. After that, they failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2024. However, they made a strong comeback in 2025, reaching the playoffs for the third time before losing to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. 

Despite the loss, the franchise backed their core squad and retained most of their key players such as Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Sai Kishore, and Kagiso Rabada.

At the same time, experienced players bring guidance and stability to the young players in the squad. On the other hand, some senior players are nearing the final phase of their careers, and IPL 2026 could possibly be their last season in the league. 

Therefore, it is important to look at the Gujarat Titans stars who might take retirement from the IPL after the 2026 season.

IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans' Players On The Verge Of Retirement

Rahul Tewatia

Rahul Tewatia is one of the most memorable match-winners for Gujarat Titans. He became famous for hitting two sixes off the last two balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2022, which helped Titans build momentum in their debut season. Eventually, the team went on to win the IPL 2022 title by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final.

Since then, Tewatia has been a useful middle-order batter and finisher for the team. Moreover, he has played several crucial cameos under pressure situations. However, in the last two seasons, his performance has not been very impressive. 

In IPL 2024, he played 9 innings and scored 188 runs with a strike rate of 145.74. After that, in IPL 2025, he played 12 innings and scored only 99 runs with a strike rate of 167.80 and an average of 12.38.

Notably, these numbers show a decline in his overall performance. Furthermore, the team management might look for younger finishing options in the coming seasons. 

Therefore, IPL 2026 could possibly be the last season for Rahul Tewatia. He will certainly aim to finish his IPL career on a strong note and contribute to the team’s success.

Also Read: IPL 2026 Jersey: Rating New Looks For All 10 Teams

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is another Gujarat Titans player who might retire from the IPL after the 2026 season. The former England captain has been one of the finest players in IPL history. He has scored more than 4000 runs in the tournament and has played many match-winning innings over the years. His aggressive batting at the top order has helped his teams in multiple seasons.

In IPL 2025, Buttler performed well and scored 538 runs in 13 innings. In addition, he formed a strong partnership with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan at the top of the order. As a result, Titans had one of the strongest batting line-ups in the tournament.

On the other hand, his recent T20 form at the international level has not been very impressive. During the T20 World Cup, he struggled and scored only 87 runs in 8 innings with a strike rate of 116 and an average of 10.88. Moreover, age is also a factor, as he will be around 36 after IPL 2026. 

Hence, Buttler might consider retiring from the IPL to focus on other formats or reduce his workload.

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is one of the most experienced fast bowlers in Indian cricket, and he was retained by Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2026 auction for INR 75 lakh. The franchise showed faith in the veteran pacer and included him in the squad as an experienced bowling option.

[Ishant Sharma's IPL 2025 stats]

In IPL 2025, Ishant Sharma played only 7 matches and picked up 4 wickets with an economy rate of 11.18. Notably, these numbers indicate that his performance was not very effective. 

Moreover, Gujarat Titans have a strong pace attack that includes Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. Therefore, Ishant might not get many opportunities in the playing XI. Additionally, he is now close to 38 years of age, and fast bowling at this level requires great fitness and consistency. 

Therefore, IPL 2026 could possibly be his final season not only in the IPL yet also in professional cricket. He might decide to retire and move into mentoring or coaching roles in the future.

Also Read: Delhi Capitals Stars Who Can Take Retirement From IPL After 2026