The Gujarat Titans have slumped in the current Indian Premier League 2025. Their fastest bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has flown back to South Africa for personal reasons, causing massive damage to the team. Though the franchise revealed his departure, they have not made any comments on his possible return, and fans are in a state of uncertainty and anxiety.

Rabada played in the Titans' first two matches of the campaign and collected a wicket in both appearances. He did, however, miss the final encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore, when Gujarat desperately lacked his class bowling services. Without knowing for sure if he will be available for the remaining part of the tournament, Gujarat might need to find an alternative soon, considering Rabada is taking up a foreign position in the team.

Here's a glance at three overseas bowlers who can replace Rabada if he is excluded from the rest of IPL 2025.

1. Mustafizur Rahman

The Bangladesh left-arm pacer, better known as Fizz, is one of the most seasoned T20 bowlers in the business. Though he performed well in IPL 2024 when he picked up 14 wickets in 9 games for Chennai Super Kings, Mustafizur surprisingly remained unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He is an expert in the powerplay and death overs, hence a likely option to replace Rabada. His variety, including yorkers and cutters, can be incredibly useful on Indian surfaces.

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Mustafizur also has the benefit of left-arm variation, which Gujarat currently does not have in their pace unit. With 61 IPL wickets in 57 games, he has established his credentials in the league and can be a very effective substitute.

2. Naveen-ul-Haq

Naveen-ul-Haq's non-availability in the IPL 2025 auction raised several eyebrows. The Afghan seamer has worked well in the IPL in the past for Lucknow Super Giants and is popular for his plethora of slower offerings and precise death bowling. In light of Gujarat's back-end issues, Naveen's skill in delivering tight overs when pressure is involved may be the answer they require.

With 25 wickets in only 17 IPL matches at a mean of 23.64, Naveen has already demonstrated his potential to excel in the league and might be a shrewd signing if Gujarat decides to go for a strategic and skill-based pacer.

3. Alzarri Joseph

The lanky Antiguan pacer is familiar with the Gujarat Titans team. He represented them in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, picking up 14 wickets. He is also remembered for his 2019 IPL debut heroics for Mumbai Indians, where he picked up a six-wicket haul, the best bowling figures in IPL history at that point.

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Even though he had a disappointing performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2024, with only one wicket in three games despite a high-value contract, his raw speed and previous experience in Gujarat might prove to be advantageous. Joseph can pick up the rhythm and send batters flying, and his previous experience with the franchise may facilitate the transition should Gujarat choose to welcome him back into the family.

With the IPL 2025 season in full swing, it will be intriguing to know if the Gujarat Titans will take a step or sit tight in the expectation that Rabada returns.