The Rajkot-based franchise made their way into the cash-rich league after Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for a period of two years. The team owned by Delhi-based Intex technologies picked all-time IPL top-scorer Suresh Raina along with local lad Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner. The team had also appointed former Australian cricketer Brad Hodge as the coach in January.

Speaking at the ceremony, team captain Suresh Raina talked about his previous franchise – Chennai Super Kings – and reiterated the same emotions his CSK skipper had shown by saying, ““I have played for CSK non-stop for eight years without missing a single game. So it will be emotional for me. But at the same time, we have a very good team at the Gujarat Lions,” reported PTI.