Vikram Solanki ‘would have liked to have gone one step further’ but still ‘immensely proud’ of GT
A Season of Grit and Determination
The IPL 2026 season concluded with a high-stakes final in Ahmedabad, where the Gujarat Titans (GT) faced off against a formidable Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side. Despite falling short of the title, the mood within the Titans’ camp remains one of reflection and pride. Vikram Solanki, the franchise’s director of cricket, addressed the media with grace, choosing to celebrate the quality of the opposition rather than dwell on the frustrations of a narrow defeat.
Congratulating the Champions
Solanki was quick to acknowledge the excellence displayed by RCB throughout the campaign. Having finished at the top of the league table and securing two victories over the Titans during the season, RCB’s performance was undeniably consistent. Solanki noted that as a group, the Gujarat Titans are immensely proud of their achievements, even though, in his own words, he ‘would have liked to have gone one step further’. He emphasized that many other teams would have gladly traded places to reach the final, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
Navigating a Tight Schedule
The road to the final was undeniably taxing for the Gujarat Titans. A loss in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala forced the team into a grueling travel schedule, requiring them to play three high-pressure matches in just five days. Their arrival in Ahmedabad late on the eve of the final provided them with less than 20 hours to prepare, yet Solanki refused to use fatigue as a justification for the final result.
He stated firmly that while the schedule was undeniably challenging, he did not want to lean on external factors to explain the outcome of the match. “The fact is that RCB have beaten us today,” Solanki said. “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 Top-Order Reliance
Throughout the season, much of the discussion surrounding the Titans focused on their heavy reliance on the top three: Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. The duo of Gill and Sai Sudharsan was particularly lethal, scoring over 700 runs each and setting a record for the most century partnerships in T20 cricket history. When pressed on whether this reliance hindered the team, Solanki responded with visible weariness, pointing to the results as sufficient evidence of the team’s success. He argued that reaching a final speaks for itself and that the individual contributions were clear for all to see.
Tactical Choices and Pitch Dynamics
The final saw a bold tactical move when young Nishant Sindhu was promoted to the No. 3 spot. Solanki explained that this was a judgment call made by head coach Ashish Nehra in consultation with the captain, intended to inject a specific dynamic into the middle order during a critical phase. While the gamble did not yield the desired result on this occasion, it underscored the proactive approach the coaching staff took throughout the tournament.
Reflecting on the pitch conditions, Solanki admitted that the team may have miscalculated the target required. He noted that the surface in Ahmedabad was not a 200-plus run pitch, and that a score in the region of 180 might have posed a significantly tougher challenge for RCB. The atmosphere, which felt more like an away game for the Titans despite being in their home city, added another layer of complexity to the match.
The Legacy of the 2026 Campaign
Despite the disappointment of the loss, the Titans’ campaign was defined by their resilience. When asked about watching Virat Kohli anchor the successful chase for RCB, Solanki remained respectful. He acknowledged Kohli as an exceptional player while maintaining the professional distance of a rival coach. As the dust settles on the IPL 2026 season, the Gujarat Titans can look back on a year marked by record-breaking individual performances and a collective drive that took them to the very brink of glory, even if the final step ultimately eluded them.
