Vikram Solanki ‘would have liked to have gone one step further’ but still ‘immensely pr’oud of GT campaign
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Reflecting on a Hard-Fought Campaign
The IPL 2026 season concluded with a hard-fought final that saw the Gujarat Titans (GT) finish as runners-up to a formidable Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side. Despite the disappointment of the final result, the mood within the Titans’ camp remains one of reflection and collective pride. Vikram Solanki, the franchise’s director of cricket, has been vocal about the team’s journey, emphasizing the positive strides made during a highly competitive tournament.
Solanki was quick to offer praise to the champions, acknowledging the sheer dominance RCB displayed throughout the league stages and into the finals. “I’ll begin by congratulating RCB. They’ve had an outstanding campaign,” Solanki noted. “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. As far as our campaign is concerned, we’re immensely proud as a group of what we’ve achieved.”
The Weight of a Grueling Schedule
The path to the final was anything but straightforward for the Titans. A loss in Qualifier 1 against RCB forced them into a high-stakes scenario, requiring them to play three grueling matches in just five days. The logistics were unforgiving, with the team arriving in Ahmedabad late on Saturday night, leaving them less than 20 hours of recovery before the title decider. However, Solanki refused to lean on fatigue as a justification for the final loss.
“The number of games in a short period of time is challenging, but I’m not going to lean on that at all,” he asserted. “The fact is that RCB have beaten us today, and we must be strong enough to hold our heads high and be proud of the campaign that we’ve put together, yet also be gracious enough to congratulate RCB.”
Addressing the ‘Over-Reliance’ Narrative
Throughout the season, critics pointed toward an apparent over-reliance on the top three batters: Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. With Gill and Sudharsan both crossing the 700-run mark and combining for a record-breaking 11 century partnerships in T20 cricket, the reliance was statistically evident. Yet, Solanki dismissed the critique as redundant.
“The number of times I’ve had to answer that question… quite seriously, we’ve just played a final,” he stated. “I think you should accept the fact that we’ve had a reasonable campaign, and the details of that are there for everyone to see.”
Tactical Decisions and Future Outlook
The final saw a tactical shift when young Nishant Sindhu was promoted to the No. 3 spot following early wickets. Solanki clarified that this was a real-time judgment call made by head coach Ashish Nehra. While the move did not yield the desired result, it highlighted the team’s willingness to adapt under pressure.
Furthermore, Solanki reflected on the pitch conditions at the final venue, suggesting that the team may have miscalculated the par score. “We probably just made a slight miscalculation of what score was appropriate on that pitch. 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.”
As the curtains close on the 2026 season, the focus for the Gujarat Titans shifts toward the future. While the sting of the loss remains, the foundation laid by this squad is undeniable. When asked about the brilliance of Virat Kohli during the chase, Solanki maintained a professional demeanor, recognizing the talent that ultimately stood in their way. “We’re all privileged to see good players play, and Virat is an exceptional player. He played a great knock for his team. I’m probably not celebrating that knock right now, but he played very well to guide that chase.”
Ultimately, the Titans walk away with their heads held high, having pushed their limits and secured a place in the championship conversation once again.
