GT's Middle Order in IPL 2026: Are They Undercooked?

Gujarat Titans' middle order has been underwhelming in IPL 2026, struggling to contribute significantly.

GT's Batting Prowess and Middle Order Struggles Gujarat Titans (GT) are known for their top-heavy batting, which often doesn't allow their middle order to shine. As a result, when the middle order is under pressure to deliver, they appear underprepared. So far in IPL 2026, GT haven't received significant contributions from their batters from Nos. 4 to 7. That middle order has the fewest runs (288) of all teams this season, and the second-lowest average (20.57). It also has just one half-century between them, the joint-lowest. ## Numbers Paint a Bleak Picture for GT's Middle Order In comparison to the top three, GT's middle order sits at the bottom in both runs and average. They have also faced the fewest balls this season, with 214 deliveries. This trend continues since the start of IPL 2025, where GT's middle order has struggled to keep pace with the top three, who have the most runs and highest average among the ten IPL teams. ## Challenges for GT's Middle Order in Upcoming Matches GT's batting coach Matthew Hayden has already exposed their middle order after a recent defeat. Former player Faf du Plessis expressed similar concerns, stating that he doesn't see anyone in the GT middle order who can rescue the side from a difficult position. "Current form, yeah. I'm not sure anyone's getting a hundred," du Plessis said. "But if you put that into other teams or out through the IPL, you could name a guy. A guy's coming in and he's got the potential to do it. He's got form or whatever he's got, he's got the shots. That middle order right now, I'm not sure." ## A Contrast to RCB's Middle Order Success In contrast, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), GT's next opponent, has a middle order that has been the perfect mix of aggression and output. This season, Rajat Patidar has been in prime form, consistently sending balls out of the ground. Tim David is also a major contributor, and only Jitesh Sharma has struggled to make an impact. Unlike GT's middle order, RCB's has been able to balance aggression with output, making them a formidable opponent. ## GT's Upcoming Match at Chinnaswamy Stadium GT will play RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the ball flies off the bat and only has to cover a short distance to the boundary. GT's middle order, which averages 20 against spin this season, will face a tough challenge from RCB's left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya, who has five wickets at the stadium with an average of 24.80.