The new Ahmedabad-based IPL team, owned by CVC Capital, will be called Gujarat Titans, the franchise revealed on Wednesday, days ahead of the mega auction.
The newly-named franchise shared a post unveiling their official name on Twitter, under the caption ‘Shubh Aarambh!’.
The franchise has three players on their roster heading into the auction: Hardik Pandya (captain), Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill. The franchise was purchased by CVC Capital Partners (Irelia Company Pte Ltd) last October.
All three players will be playing in their second IPL team, Rashid from Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gill from Kolkata Knight Riders, and Pandya from Mumbai Indians. Pandya will also be leading an IPL franchise for the first time.
Titans will play in the IPL for the first time, with Hardik Pandya as their captain and Ashish Nehra as head coach. Former South Africa cricketer Gary Kirsten and ex-India cricketer Aashish Kapoor have been appointed the batting coach and spin bowling coach, respectively.
The home stadium of the Titans will be Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the biggest cricket stadium in the world.
“We want this group to achieve great things for Gujarat and its many passionate fans, which is why we have chosen the name Titans,” Siddharth Patel, a partner at CVC, said.
“As we approach the league’s mega auction, we are confident that we will be able to put together the right combination of players going into the new season. We want individuals that are not only highly skilled but who are inspired to be Titans of the game.
“We look forward to starting on our journey with the passion and support of the people of Gujarat, and hope to inspire and win over new fans from all over India and the world,” he added.
Titans will have Rs 52 crore in their purse for the auction, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. A total of 590 players have been shortlisted for the mega event.
