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The Gujarat Titans have appointed former Australian star Matthew Hayden as their batting coach for the forthcoming TATA IPL 2026 season. The announcement represents a change in the franchise`s strategy as they seek to combine their young team with seasoned international experience.
Hayden, a two-time ICC Cricket World Cup champion with CSK, will bring his vast experience to the team. The Aussie star has over 15,000 international runs for Australia to his name and was famous for his aggressive approach, perfect for T20 cricket. His appointment could be a key factor in improving Gujrata Giant`s approach in the Powerplay.
The Gujarat Titans` director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, said, “Matthew’s appointment comes at a pivotal phase in our journey. As a franchise committed to excellence and long-term success, we are constantly focused on strengthening our cricketing ecosystem. His experience at the highest level, coupled with his ability to mentor emerging talent, will be instrumental in shaping our batting identity for the seasons ahead.”
Matthew Hayden was eager to start working with the GT batters. The former Aussie opener will try to implement his typical aggressive mindset when coaching the young GT team.
“Good batting applies pressure. Great batting owns the game. That’s the standard we want to set at Gujarat Titans.” Matthew Hayden said.
With over 32 matches and two titles to his name in IPL, Hayden will bring a winning mentality and high-intensity to the GT batting order.
Gujarat Titans` record in the IPL
Gujarat Titans made a stellar debut in the Indian Premier League, winning the trophy in their maiden attempt. Gujarat Giants have won the IPL in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2023.
In 2024, GT captain Hardik Pandya made the switch to the Mumbai Indians, and since then, the Gujarat franchise has struggled. GT finished eighth in the 2024 season before reaching the play-offs in 2025.
Captain Shubman Gill will aim for a positive season in the upcoming IPL. With Matthew Hayden as a batting coach and Ashish Nehra as the head coach, GT will hope to get back to their best and challenge for the IPL title again.
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