5. Kwena Maphaka (Rajasthan Royals)

Kwena Maphaka is getting a fresh start in the IPL2025 after being picked by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.5 crore. Last season, he was with Mumbai Indians but didn’t have a great season, playing only two matches and taking just one wicket while conceding 89 runs. His economy rate of 14.83 was high, which might be why he didn’t get more chances in the IPL 2024.

After that, Maphaka has played very well in SA20, where he plays for Paarl Royals. His best deliveries are the ones he pitches on a back-of-a-length, making life difficult for batters in SA20. With his hard work and the right guidance, he has the talent to make a mark in the IPL. This move to Rajasthan Royals gives him a fresh opportunity to prove himself again.

4. Bevon Jacobs (Mumbai Indians)

Bevon Jacobs, the only overseas player on this list, is a hard-hitting batter from South Africa with some experience in New Zealand’s domestic cricket. Before the auction, he had played just six T20 matches, but Mumbai Indians saw his potential and signed him for ₹20 lakh.

Since then, he has played 20 T20 games, scoring 423 runs at an average of 32.53 and a strike rate of over 148. With two fifties and a top score of 90*, he is a powerful hitter that MI will be excited to use in the upcoming season.

3. C Andre Siddarth (Chennai Super Kings)

C Andre Siddarth comes from a cricketing family and is the nephew of Tamil Nadu’s experienced player S Sharath. He hasn’t played a T20 match yet, but his performances in first-class cricket have already made people take notice.

At just 18, he was one of Tamil Nadu’s standout players in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 612 runs in 12 innings at an average of 68.00, with a century and five fifties. Chennai Super Kings have a history of developing young talent, and Siddarth will be hoping to follow that path in IPL 2025.

ALSO READ: Shardul Thakur Likely to Replace Mohsin Khan in LSG for IPL 2025

2. Robin Minz (Mumbai Indians)

Robin Minz was supposed to make his IPL debut in 2024 with Gujarat Titans, but a road accident ruled him out of the season. Even though he couldn’t play, his talent was clear, and Mumbai Indians picked him up for ₹65 lakh more than twice his base price of ₹30 lakh.

The wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand is known for his power-hitting, with a strike rate of 181 in T20s, though he has only played a few matchesin first-class . He has already impressed in domestic cricket, and MI’s belief in him shows they see him as a potential game-changer this IPL season.

1.Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)

Biggest surprises of the IPL 2025 auction was Rajasthan Royals picking up 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for ₹1.1 crore. Born in 2011, he is now the youngest player in IPL history.

Even at such a young age, the left-handed batter has already made a strong impression in youth cricket in the U-19 Tournament. He smashed a 58-ball century for India U-19 against Australia and he was the top scorer in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, scoring 176 runs in five matches. He even made his first-class debut for Bihar when he was just 12 years old. Now, all eyes will be on him as Rajasthan Royals give him a chance to shine on the big stage like IPL.

Indian cricket and the Gujarat Titans franchise received a blow as promising cricketer Robin Minz, recently acquired by the Titans, is set to miss the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season due to a bike accident. The unfortunate incident overshadows Minz’s much-anticipated debut in one of cricket’s most prestigious tournaments.

Impact on IPL 2024 Participation

Robin Minz, a budding talent from Jharkhand, was a notable addition to the Gujarat Titans lineup for IPL 2024, having been secured for a significant sum of Rs 3.60 crores in the mini-auction. However, the excitement surrounding his inclusion quickly turned to disappointment as news broke of his bike accident, which will sideline him for the entire season.

See Also: IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals probable playing XI and impact player strategies

Details of the Bike Accident

The accident occurred when Minz lost control of his Kawasaki superbike a few weeks before the IPL season began. Hailing from Gumla, Jharkhand, Minz reportedly rode close to his hometown when the mishap occurred. Despite avoiding significant harm, the accident’s severity was enough to rule him out of IPL 2024.

Assessment of Minz’s IPL Prospects

Robin Minz’s acquisition by the Gujarat Titans was a significant milestone, particularly as he was presumed to be the first Adivasi (indigenous) cricket player to be purchased at an IPL auction. The anticipation surrounding his IPL debut was palpable, with high hopes pinned on his performance in the upcoming season. However, the unfortunate events have dashed those expectations, leaving Minz and the franchise disheartened over the missed opportunity.

Gujarat Titans will face Mumbai Indians in its first match of IPL 2024 at its home ground in Ahmedabad on March 24. In its following game, it will take on defending champion CSK in Chennai on March 26.

Here is the full IPL 2024 schedule of Gujarat Titans

1. vs Mumbai Indians – March 24 – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM IST
2. vs Chennai Super Kings – March 26 – Chennai – 7:30 PM IST
3. vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – March 31 – Ahmedabad – 3:30 PM IST
4. vs Punjab Kings – April 4 – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM IST
5. vs Lucknow Super Giants – April 7 – Lucknow -7:30 PM IST

Gujarat Titans squad: David Miller, Shubman Gill (c), Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson, Robin Minz. 

Gujarat Titans is a franchise that introduced the IPL world with a bang. Announcing the world with a glorious title win in the 2022 edition against the Rajasthan Royals. With an optimum balance of all cricketing aspects, the Gujarat Titans are also prominent for their robust coaching staff. By this, they entered their second straight IPL final, where they were adjourned runners-up against the five-time champion Chennai Super Kings.

With the news of Hardik Pandya changing his squad to the Mumbai Indians, the captain’s responsibility has been given to Shubman Gill, who has created a dynamic impact with the bat in his IPL stint. With some significant blows due to injury, emerging players, and a first-time IPL captain, here are the top four players from the Gujarat Titans squad.

Shubman Gill

It is no surprise to find the name of Shubman Gill on the list. Post Hardik Pandya’s impeccable run as a captain, the young-blooded batter puts on the shoes of a role that defines a team.

With his recent performances for the Indian team, Gill will have no signs of stopping to display consistent performance for his IPL squad as a captain. With a colossal 2790 runs in 91 matches, he has three triple-digit figure feathers added to his hat; he is one of the players to check out for from the team and the whole tournament.

Kane Williamson

Though watching the Kiwi batter on the list might be surprising, Kane Williamson can be an impactful player for the squad. Williamson has had a rough-terrain IPL stint ever since the 2019 edition. After his underwhelming performance from 2019-22, he was released by his first IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he led them to their second IPL final in the 2018 edition & he was also the Orange Cap Winner (Most Runs in an edition) for the season.

He was bought by Gujarat Titans and suffered a significant setback due to an injury in the previous edition, which got him ruled out for the rest of the tournament. But, his captaincy and leadership skills can be a pivotal asset for the team & their new captain, Shubman Gill. It is evident to watch Williamson making a solid comeback after a major injury and can get a chance to display his skills in the shortest format of the game.

See Also: IPL 2024: Top 4 Chennai Super Kings players to be in focus

Shahrukh Khan

Known for taking the game deep and finishing it off with his batting power, Shahrukh Khan was a vital element with the Punjab Kings as a middle-order batter. But, with just 426 runs in 33 matches and a commendable 135 Strike Rate, it indicates some more mettle within the Tamil Nadu batter.

With the release of their former captain, Hardik Pandya, the team can rely on Shahrukh Khan’s finishing abilities. The big hitter of Gujarat Titans will have a lot to contribute as an all-rounder.

Robin Minz

Robin Minz, 21, became the first tribal cricketer to join the tournament’s ecosystem. The fierce bidding war ended in a hefty payoff for Minz, who obtained a contract worth INR 3.6 crore—18 times his base price of INR 20 lakh. Despite not making his professional cricket debut, Minz stands out as a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman recognised for his explosive hitting.

Earlier this year, he hit an undefeated 73 from 35 deliveries in an invitational T20 competition in Odisha. Minz has represented the Jharkhand U19 and U25 teams. With Wriddhiman Saha as the team’s primary wicketkeeper, the management can extract value for the team’s future wicketkeeper requirements from the youngster if his promising game is adequately groomed and nurtured.

Gujarat Titans (GT) player Robin Minz caused a stir within the cricket community when news of his accident spread rapidly. The young cricketer was involved in a severe bike accident on Saturday, March 2nd, just days before the start of IPL 2024.

Reports indicate that Robin Minz was riding a Kawasaki superbike when the accident occurred, colliding with another bike on his way home, resulting in a loss of control and a fall. He sustained injuries, including bruises to his right knee, and was promptly taken to the hospital, where he remains under observation.

Despite initial concerns, Robin Minz’s father, Francis Minz, provided an update on his son’s condition, indicating that while the incident was frightening, Robin escaped major harm and is currently recuperating. This positive news hints at his potential availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League season, scheduled from March 22nd to May 26th, 2024.

SEE ALSO: Pucovski Retires Hurt Due to Head Injury in Sheffield Shield Match

Robin Minz’s Remarkable 137-Run Innings in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy

Robin Minz, a sought-after player in the IPL 2024 auction, was eventually acquired by the Gujarat Titans for INR 3.6 crore after attracting attention from multiple franchises. His recent stellar performance in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy, where he scored 137 runs for Karnataka, underscores his talent and potential.

Despite setbacks, including the loss in the knockout game, Robin Minz remains a promising talent in Indian cricket, as evidenced by the bidding war he sparked in the IPL auction. With Shubman Gill leading the Gujarat Titans in the absence of Hardik Pandya, Robin faces the challenge of guiding the team amidst injury concerns surrounding key players.