'They don't have...' - Mohammad Kaif points out glaring flaw in GT's setup ahead of IPL 2026

Published - 21 Mar 2026, 15:47 IST | Updated - 21 Mar 2026, 15:48 IST

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif is concerned by the lack of death bowling options at Gujarat Titans’ (GT) disposal for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

GT had one of the best bowling lineups last time around. Prasidh Krishna won the Purple Cap after taking 25 wickets, while spinner Sai Kishore took 19 wickets.

Despite possessing two in-form bowlers along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan, Kaif is worried that the 2022 champions do not have an outright death bowler who could come in and bowl tight and stop the flow of runs. The former India player, however, acknowledged that GT’s bowling unit is otherwise good.

"Siraj is a new-ball bowler. Prasidh Krishna bowls in the middle. His strength is hit-the-deck bowling. The Ahmedabad ground is big. The square boundaries are big. He bowls hard lengths in the middle. So, I can understand what his role is," Kaif was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

"Prasidh Krishna has shown improvement in his slower balls as well. The ball dips and he picks up wickets, but they don't have death bowling. Kagiso Rabada is getting hit. Siraj also got hit. I am talking about the final three or four matches last year. Prasidh Krishna got hit," he added.

GT do have some quality bowlers in their ranks who are capable of challenging the established stars in the team. Experienced pacer Ishant Sharma is still amongst the ranks while England’s left-arm seamer Luke Wood could offer something different with the new ball should Rabada need replacing.

GT’s bowling, despite all of its positives, did cost them a spot in the Eliminator last season, as Mumbai Indians scored 228 runs from 20 overs with both Siraj and Krishna going for 90 runs in their eight overs combined.

The Shubman Gill-led side will start their 2026 IPL campaign with an away game against the Punjab Kings on Tuesday, March 31.