Ahmedabad’s Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise has been named ‘Gujarat Titans’, the team owner Siddharth Patel of CVC Capital Partners confirmed on Wednesday. The franchise is one of the two newest additions to the tournament – the other being Lucknow (Super Giants).
The side will be led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was released by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL mega auction. Along with the 28-year-old Indian, Ahmedabad also roped in Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan and India youngster Shubman Gill. Both Pandya and Rashid were signed at ₹15 crore, while the Indian opener was picked at ₹8 crore.
The franchise from Ahmedabad will be second to participate in the tournament from Gujarat; earlier, the ‘Gujarat Lions’ appeared in two seasons of the IPL (2016 and 2017) when Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were banned on allegations of corruption. Under Suresh Raina’s captaincy, the Lions had topped the table in their maiden season but failed to lift the title. Former South African batter Gary Kirsten, who had famously coached India to ODI World Cup win in 2011, will serve as the batting coach and mentor of the Ahmedabad franchise. Former India pacer Ashish Nehra was appointed as the head coach. The 2022 season also sees Hardik Pandya making his maiden appearance as a full-time captain in the tournament.
