"He has been dropped from his team" - Aakash Chopra on Gujarat Titans' playing 12 conundrum after IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Gujarat Titans (GT) would be in a dilemma while picking their playing combination after the IPL 2026 auction. The analyst highlighted that while the Titans might not be able to play Shahrukh Khan, considering his current form, he wondered how Jason Holder, their most expensive signing, would be accommodated.

GT spent ₹10.95 crore to acquire five players at the IPL 2026 auction. While Holder (₹7 crore) was their costliest purchase, Tom Banton (₹2 crore), Ashok Sharma (₹90 lakh), Luke Wood (₹75 lakh) and Prithviraj Yarra (₹30 lakh) were their other buys.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener pointed out the Gujarat Titans' potential conundrum while deciding their batting order after the IPL 2026 auction.

"Their biggest purchase was Jason Holder. They spent ₹7 crore and made him a part of their team. However, the big question that comes to my mind is what would be Jason Holder's role. The one good thing for them is that Kumar Kushagra is playing beautifully. He is batting so well that it seems like he can be made to bat at No. 4," Chopra said. (9:55) "Washington Sundar can be kept at No. 5 and Glenn Phillips can be brought at No. 6 because Shahrukh Khan is playing extremely badly. He has been dropped from his team. If things are going like that, you won't go with Shahrukh. You might want to go with somebody else. So Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, and then Rashid Khan, or will you play Jason Holder here?" he added.

Shahrukh Khan managed only 18 runs at a paltry average of 4.50 in the four games he played for Tamil Nadu in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Apart from the aforementioned players, the Gujarat Titans could play Rahul Tewatia as a lower-middle-order batter.

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"It's been a while since he has had a big IPL season" - Aakash Chopra on Jason Holder's place in Gujarat Titans' playing 12 in IPL 2026

Jason Holder has scored 189 runs and picked up 35 wickets in 26 IPL games. [P/C: Getty]

While highlighting that Jason Holder hasn't fared well in the IPL lately, Aakash Chopra expressed surprise about the Gujarat Titans' decision to pick Tom Banton ahead of Jamie Smith.

"Jason Holder had an excellent CPL (Caribbean Premier League). However, it's been a while since he has had a big IPL season. So that was a big concern, and how would a place be created in the XI? A lower-order batter would be required. I am very surprised that they took Tom Banton and let Jamie Smith go. I felt Jamie Smith could have been an option," he said in the same video. (10:40)

The cricketer-turned-commentator wondered whether Shubman Gill and company would be comfortable batting Holder at No. 6 or No. 7.

"You could have taken a wicketkeeper-batter who can bat down the order. He solves two problems. You have taken Jason Holder, but how many matches will you be able to play him, and if you play him, where will you make him bat? If you make him bat at No. 6 or No. 7, are you comfortable? Are you confident that you have done the right thing?" Chopra observed.

Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler and Kagiso Rabada will likely take three of the four overseas spots in the Gujarat Titans' playing combination. The IPL 2022 champions might have to choose between Glenn Phillips and Jason Holder as their fourth overseas player in such a scenario.

Edited by Kartik Iyer