Gujarat Titans Reflect on IPL Final Loss to RCB
Gujarat Titans' Director Comments on IPL Final
Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket for Gujarat Titans (GT), recognized the challenges posed by their rigorous schedule but refrained from using it as a justification for their defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL final. He acknowledged that while the Titans had opportunities to compete with RCB, they ultimately fell short, conceding that RCB was the superior team on that day.
Impact of Weather on Arrival
The Titans faced a delay in reaching Ahmedabad due to inclement weather, which left them with less than a day to prepare for their third IPL final at home. Solanki remarked, "The number of matches in a condensed timeframe is indeed tough. While it's the end of the season, I won't use that as an excuse. We had chances to challenge RCB, but they were the stronger team today. Statistics regarding our performance are irrelevant now."
Details of Travel Delays
Originally, the Titans were set to leave Chandigarh on Saturday afternoon via a charter flight following their victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. However, heavy rainfall in north-western India, especially around Punjab, caused airport authorities in Chandigarh to delay take-off clearances, affecting multiple flights.
RCB Secures Consecutive Titles
RCB celebrated their IPL 2026 victory, led by a remarkable performance from Virat Kohli, who scored an impressive 75* off 42 balls, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final held in Ahmedabad. With this win, RCB joined the ranks of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as teams that have secured back-to-back IPL titles.
Solanki's Assessment of the Match
Solanki expressed that the Titans were approximately 20-25 runs short of a competitive total in the final. He commended his team's resilience and determination in making the match closely contested. He noted that while small margins could have altered the result, the reality was that they were outplayed by a better team that day. "We might have been 20 or 25 runs short, but it was inspiring to see the fight and determination from the players to keep the game close. Ultimately, we were defeated by a stronger side, and I extend my congratulations to RCB," he stated.