Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is set to join the Gujarat Titans (GT) as their batting mentor ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Sources close to the development have confirmed that Patel will be part of the support staff, which is led by former India cricketer Ashish Nehra.
Patel’s appointment comes as he replaces Gary Kirsten, who had previously held the dual role of batting coach and mentor for the franchise. Kirsten has departed from the IPL to take on a new role as the head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball teams.
Meanwhile, Vikram Solanki remains with Gujarat Titans as the Director of Cricket. Solanki was recently seen attending the Delhi vs Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, continuing his involvement with the franchise.
Before his move to the Gujarat Titans, Patel was associated with Mumbai Indians as a talent scout. He was frequently spotted at various domestic matches, including age-group tournaments, showcasing his dedication to tracking emerging talent across the country.
Having retired from all forms of cricket in December 2020, Patel has been active in scouting and commentary roles. His in-depth knowledge of the domestic circuit and his extensive experience in the IPL, having played for several franchises, is expected to be a significant asset for Gujarat Titans as they prepare for the upcoming mega auction.
Gujarat Titans have enjoyed an impressive start to their IPL journey, winning the title in their debut season and finishing as runners-up the following year. However, their performance in the 2024 edition fell short, as injuries to key players, including Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya’s transfer back to Mumbai Indians, disrupted the balance of the squad.
As the team works on finalising their player retentions, Shubman Gill is expected to be their top priority. Gill, who was promoted to captain last season, remains central to the franchise’s future plans as they aim to build another title-contending team.
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