IPL 2026 auction: Is Cameron Green the ‘Hardik Pandya replacement’ Gujarat Titans have been looking for?

Since Hardik Pandya left, the Gujarat Titans have finished 8th and 3rd (out in 2nd Qualified) in the next two seasons.

Gujarat Titans (GT) were flying high. Champions in their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2022 and finalists in 2023. With Hardik Pandya at the helm, everything seemed to be going right. The Titans looked set to break the duopoly of the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

But tragedy struck. After just two years, Hardik bid the franchise adieu. He returned to his IPL home. As expected, his absence affected the Titans. From topping the points table in the last two seasons, they finished 8th with just 5 wins from 12 matches.

The mega auction in 2024 helped them rebuild, and they reached the IPL 2025 playoffs but the hole that Hardik’s departure left hasn’t been filled. Shubman Gill became captain and has done well. But Hardik wasn’t just GT’s skipper.

How Hardik Pandya’s batting was important for GT

He is one of a kind. A pace-bowling Indian all-rounder. When Hardik came to Gujarat, he changed his role from a finisher to an anchor. All of his innings for them came at number three or four. His strike rate dipped, but that was the job. He bowled in the powerplay when needed and became a death bowler when required.

Hardik was the jack of all trades. That’s partly why GT did so well. There aren’t many who can do what he did. The 2022 champions have a good bowling lineup, but apart from Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, they don’t have any trusted batters.

Now, Hardik bowled only 55.3 overs for GT in two seasons. In comparison, he’s bowled 71 overs for MI in 2024 and 2025. Gujarat needed his batting more than his bowling. During his 2-year stint, only Gill scored more runs than Hardik. That’s the case even now. But that doesn’t mean bowling’s irrelevant.

Hardik Pandya’s IPL batting stats for GT

Batting Position	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	50s	Highest Score
3	11	341	37.89	138.62	3	67
4	19	492	37.85	130.16	3	87*
Overall	30	833	37.86	133.49	6	87*

Romario Shepherd and Andre Russell might be the only two pace-bowling all-rounders who can come anywhere near Hardik. Neither the Royal Challengers Bengaluru nor the Kolkata Knight Riders will release either of them. But they lack the versatility that he has with ball and bat. There is only one player who can actually fill the role GT wants. And that’s Cameron Green.

Cameron Green, the missing piece in GT’s puzzle

The Australian all-rounder wasn’t available in the IPL 2025 mega auction due to an injury, but he’ll be available this time around. The 26-year-old has already earned INR 17.50 crore twice. So, the price tag pressure won’t get to him. And he’s grown exponentially as a T20 player in the last couple of years.

Green’s batting strike rate is over 150, all the while averaging nearly 40 in the last two years. This alone makes him one of the most sought-after players in the IPL 2026 auction. Add his bowling to this, and he’s likely to be the most expensive pick. He delivers 2 overs a match and has taken 17 wickets at a 16.4 bowling strike rate.

Green can be a perfect number four for GT. He can anchor if need be and then go into a destructive mode as well. His inclusion would allow Gill and Sudharsan to start more aggressively instead of fearing the lack of quality batters left. And he can be used in the powerplay and middle overs with the ball. He can share the load when someone else is struggling and bowl his quota on his day.

Cameron Green T20 stats since 2024

Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	Wickets	Economy
26	637	39.81	150.59	17	8.68

 

‘MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev treated players like sh*t’: Yograj Singh makes explosive comment on Hookah controversy

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Catch what Yograj Singh had to say on MS Dhoni's viral hookah gate controversy.

Ever since the old Irfan Pathan interview video has resurfaced, there have been questions put up on MS Dhoni’s influence in the team. The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain has been in the centre of the ‘Hookah’ controversy, with rumours saying that he favoured players who set up hookahs for him. Now, there’s an interesting take from Yograj Singh, who has exploded at Dhoni and even Kapil Dev for treating fellow players badly. They treated players ‘sh*t’ as per Yograj.

Yograj Singh lambasts Dhoni, Kapil Dev

While speaking exclusively to InsideSport, Yograj Singh called out instances of Dhoni of putting up a bad environment. He emphasised that it is not only Irfan Pathan who spoke on Dhoni. Yograj namedropped Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh, calling out when Bhajji called out Dhoni for removing him from the team like a fly.

“It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said about it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience,” Yograj said while speaking to InsideSport.

The former all-rounder went on to say that players like MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi treated players like shit. Just like with Dhoni, Yograj has strained relations with Kapil Dev. In a previous interview, Yograj even revealed that he pointed a gun at Kapil’s head once over his ouster from the team.

“I talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni. I can talk about people whom I have been with. They have treated people like shit. Jo galat hai wo galat hai. Two wrongs cannot make one right. I say this openly, that our cricketers and team were destroyed by our captain.“

 

Sikandar Raza reigns in ICC ODI rankings, becomes world’s number-1 all-rounder

35-year-old Keshav Maharaj becomes number 1 ODI bowler.

Zimbabwe star player Sikandar Raza has become the top-ranked all-rounder in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings for the first time in his career after a stellar performance in the two-match series against Sri Lanka in Harare.

39-year-old Raza scored 92 and 59 not out in both matches and took one wicket in the series to overtake Afghanistan’s pair of Azmatullah Umarzai and Mohammad Nabi, who are now second and third respectively. Raza’s previous best was second which he achieved in December 2023.

Raza’s total score of 151 runs has taken him up nine places to 22nd in the batting rankings, two places behind his career-best 24th position in June 2023. He has also moved up one place to 38th in the bowlers’ list.

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, who topped the list with 198 runs and was named Player of the Series, has moved up seven places to 13th, while Sri Lanka’s Janith Liyanage and Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams are the other players to move up in the batting rankings after the series.

Keshav Maharaj also regains №1 spot

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has overtaken Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana to take the sole №1 spot in the ODI bowling rankings. He took four wickets for 22 runs in the first ODI against England in Leeds.

In the ICC Men’s T20 International Player Rankings, Afghanistan batsmen Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal played a key role in defeating Pakistan by scoring 65 and 64 runs respectively in the tri-series match in Sharjah. Zadran has moved up 12 places to 20th, while Atal has climbed 346 places to 127th.

Pakistan batsman Hasan Nawaz (up two places to joint 31st) is among the movers in the batting rankings, while Sufyan Muqeem (up 11 places to 22nd), Shaheen Afridi (up eight places to 26th) and Mohammad Nawaz (up 15 places to 43rd) are among the movers in the bowling rankings.

 

‘Only selectors can answer this’ Bhuvneshwar Kumar on not getting a place in the Indian cricket team 2025

By Mahi / September 4, 2025

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was last seen playing for the Indian team in November 2022

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Experienced fast bowler of the Indian cricket team Bhuvneshwar Kumar has put forth his side on not being able to make a place in the team for a long time. Let us tell you that Bhuvi, once known as the prince of swing, has been out of the Indian team for a long time.

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• Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave a big statement
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He was last seen in international cricket for Team India against New Zealand in November 2022. At the same time, 35-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar has said that returning to the Indian team is not in his control, because the selection in the Indian team is done by the selectors. At this time I am only focusing on performing consistently well in domestic cricket.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave a big statement

Let us tell you that recently, quoting Dainik Jagran, Bhuvi said – Only selectors can answer this (place in the Indian team). My job is to give my 100 percent on the field, and that is what I am doing. If I get a chance to play for Uttar Pradesh in Mushtaq Ali, Ranji or ODI after the UP T20 League, I will give my best there too.

Bhuvneshwar further said- Being a disciplined bowler, my focus is on fitness and line-length. No matter how well you perform, sometimes luck does not favor you. Your performance is paramount. If someone plays good cricket consistently, he cannot be ignored for long.

Even if you are not selected, focus on giving your 100 percent. The rest depends on the selectors. Yes, with Rajiv Shukla becoming the president, it will be difficult to ignore talent.

Let us tell you that BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla is currently at the forefront in the race to become the BCCI President. At the same time, from the statement given by Bhuvi, you can guess that after Rajiv Shukla became the president, it will not be easy for the selectors to ignore him despite his good performance.

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‘Sanju is experienced, he should bat at number three instead of Tilak Verma’ Bold statement of former veteran before Asia Cup

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Mahi

04
Sep

Sanju Samson: Asia Cup 2025 is starting from 9 September

Sanju Samson: Shubman Gill has been included as vice-captain in Team India’s 15-member squad for Asia Cup 2025 starting in UAE from 9 September. One thing is clear from this decision of the management that Gill will definitely be a part of the playing XI.

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• Sanju Samson: Mohammad Kaif made a big statement
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Also, media reports have claimed that Gill and Abhishek Sharma can be seen opening. Because of this, Sanju Samson, who has been playing the responsibility of opening in Team India for the last one year, may have to bat in the middle order.

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a big statement regarding the batting order of Team India in the Asia Cup. Kaif believes that Tilak is very young and he can wait for his chance by staying out of the field. He has advocated playing Sanju at number three keeping in mind the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year.

Sanju Samson: Mohammad Kaif made a big statement

Recently, Kaif said through a video uploaded on his YouTube channel- “Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open (in the Asia Cup). For number three, I think Tilak Verma is a young player and can wait for his turn. Sanju is an experienced batsman, and he can be improved by giving him consistent opportunities at number three. There is a World Cup after six months, and he deserves a chance.” Kaif further said, “He is one of the top 10 six-hitting batsmen in IPL.

So I believe that when Rashid Khan comes to bowl in the middle overs, there can be no one better than Sanju against him, because he can hit sixes down the ground. South Africa has the most difficult conditions for batting, and he has scored two centuries there as an opener. He plays both fast and spin bowlers well, and in IPL he scores 400-500 runs every year.”

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