Solanki ‘would have liked to have gone one step further’ but still ‘immensely proud’ of GT
Reflecting on a Campaign of Grit and Determination
The conclusion of the IPL 2026 season brought with it a bittersweet atmosphere for the Gujarat Titans. While the final result did not swing in their favor against a dominant Royal Challengers Bengaluru side, the overarching sentiment from within the GT camp remains one of respect and accomplishment. Vikram Solanki, the team’s director of cricket, has been vocal about the team’s journey, emphasizing that while Solanki ‘would have liked to have gone one step further’ but still ‘immensely proud’ of the group’s collective achievements.
A Gracious Defeat
Solanki was quick to shift the spotlight toward the opposition. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a stellar season, finishing at the summit of the league table and maintaining their momentum through to the final. Acknowledging their consistency, Solanki noted, ‘I’ll begin by congratulating RCB. They’ve had an outstanding campaign. They finished at the top of the table in the league stage and then went on to beat us twice, so we must take that on board.’
For the Titans, the road to the final was anything but smooth. After falling to RCB in Qualifier 1, the team faced a grueling schedule that demanded travel and intense gameplay under pressure. Despite arriving in Ahmedabad late the night before the final, Solanki refused to use fatigue as a crutch or an excuse for the defeat, opting instead to maintain a standard of professional integrity.
Addressing the ‘Over-reliance’ Narrative
Throughout the season, much of the media commentary revolved around the Gujarat Titans’ dependency on their top-order trio: Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. The stats certainly support the idea of their importance, with Gill and Sai Sudharsan accumulating over 700 runs each and setting records for century partnerships. However, Solanki dismissed the critique of this dependency as reductive.
‘The number of times I’ve had to answer that question… quite seriously, we’ve just played a final,’ he remarked. He challenged critics to view the season through a broader lens, pointing to the tangible results and the sheer volume of runs scored as evidence of a successful, albeit imperfect, strategic approach.
Tactical Decisions and Pitch Miscalculations
The final itself presented unique challenges, particularly regarding the pitch and the crowd atmosphere. In a venue that serves as home for the Titans, the overwhelming support for RCB made it feel like an away game for the franchise. Tactically, Solanki admitted that the team may have misjudged the nature of the surface.
‘We probably just made a slight miscalculation of what score was appropriate on that pitch,’ he confessed. ‘I don’t think it was a 200-plus pitch of any sort. I think if we had got somewhere around the 180-mark, that would have been a challenging total for them to chase.’ This candid assessment highlights the marginal differences that often define the outcome of a high-stakes T20 final.
Looking Ahead with Pride
Despite the sting of losing the title, Solanki remains focused on the positives. When asked about the brilliance of Virat Kohli, whose performance anchored RCB’s chase, Solanki maintained a professional demeanor. ‘We’re all privileged to see good players play, and Virat is an exceptional player,’ he stated. While he admitted he wasn’t exactly celebrating the knock as an opponent, he recognized the class involved in the display.
Ultimately, the Gujarat Titans leave the 2026 season with their heads held high. They navigated a demanding season with resilience, and as Solanki summarized, they are ‘immensely proud’ of the campaign they put together. While the trophy remains elusive this year, the foundation laid by the management and the players suggests a bright future for the Titans in seasons to come.
