Gujarat Titans (GT) have hit a rough patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). Their star bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has had to head back home to South Africa due to some personal matters. The team let everyone know about his departure, but they weren’t clear about when he might be back, leaving fans a bit in the dark. His absence was definitely felt in the last match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where the Titans missed his bowling prowess.
With the IPL season in full swing, the team is keeping their options open. If Rabada doesn’t return before the tournament wraps up, they may need to find a replacement. Since he’s an overseas player, GT will likely look to bring in another international player to fill his spot. In this piece, let’s chat about three potential bowlers who could step in for Rabada if needed.
- Josh Little
First up is Josh Little, the Irish cricketer who has played for Gujarat before. He was part of the team during the 2023-24 seasons but only got a chance to play in one game, where he took four wickets. While he showed promise, he didn’t get more opportunities in IPL because he preferred to play in a series against Pakistan at that time. In the previous season, he played ten matches but struggled a bit, finishing with seven wickets at an average of 42. Still, he has a solid record for Ireland, so there’s a good chance the franchise might give him a call again.
- Mustafizur Rehman
Next on the list is Mustafizur Rahman, the experienced bowler from Bangladesh, also known as ‘Fizz.’ He didn’t get picked during the last auction, which was a surprise considering he played pretty well last season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he grabbed 14 wickets in nine matches. His international form may have raised some doubts among teams, which could be why he went unsold. He’s known for being a new-ball bowler and shines in the death overs, making him a valuable player. GT could benefit from his experience and skill during this IPL season.
- Alzarri Joseph
Finally, we have Alzarri Joseph from Antigua. He has been a key bowler for the West Indies in white-ball cricket for several years now. His ability to generate speed and pressure on batsmen was evident during his IPL debut back in 2019 with Mumbai Indians (MI). However, he’s had a bit of an up-and-down journey in the IPL, as indicated by his performance last season with RCB, where he managed to take only one wicket in three games despite a hefty contract. He went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, but his past numbers show he has potential. Joseph played for GT in 2022 and 2023, taking 14 wickets during his time with the team, and that familiarity could be beneficial if they decide to bring him back.
So there you have it: three bowlers who could potentially fill the void left by Kagiso Rabada if he can’t make it back to the tournament soon. With the season heating up, the Titans will be watching closely to see how things unfold.
