The Gujarat Titans (GT) have announced that they are bringing back Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka to take the place of New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips. Glenn is out for the rest of the IPL 2025 season because of an injury. Shanaka was part of the Titans team in IPL 2023 and now he’s back for a price of Rs 75 lakh. He didn’t have a standout performance before—he only played three games and scored 26 runs without getting a chance to bowl. Still, at 32, Shanaka has a lot of international cricket experience and has been in good form lately, which could help the team, especially since they’ve been a bit all over the place this season.
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This will be Shanaka’s second go in the IPL, again with the Gujarat Titans. Last time, his role was pretty limited, and he didn’t get much playing time under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy. But he’s likely looking forward to stepping up this time around now that Shubman Gill is leading the team. The Titans definitely need more balance and experience in their middle order, and Shanaka could provide just that.
As for Glenn Phillips, he was brought in for a good amount during the auction—Rs 2 crore—but unfortunately didn’t get to play even a single match this season because of his injury. Known for being a strong hitter and a decent bowler, he spent the entire season on the bench while Sherfane Rutherford got the nod to play. Although Glenn was active as a substitute fielder early on, it’s a shame that he couldn’t get a chance to show what he could do on the field.
On the other hand, Shanaka has been doing quite well in his recent games. He played for the Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 (ILT20), contributing to their victory in the tournament. In 10 innings there, he managed to score 164 runs with an average of 27 and also took four wickets. His all-around performance was crucial in their success, proving that he can keep his cool when the game gets tough. After wrapping up the ILT20, he also participated in Sri Lanka’s domestic red-ball competitions, playing for Dambulla in the National Super League 4-day tournament and for Sinhalese Sports Club in the Major League Tournament. So, he’s coming back to the IPL with some good recent form and a lot of experience under his belt.
