Gujarat Titans have often been labelled as a predictable side, with opponents and pundits pointing to their steady, familiar brand of cricket. On the eve of their next playoff assignment, assistant coach Parthiv Patel pushed back on that narrative, stressing that consistency has been the core strength of the franchise since it began in 2022.
Quick facts
- Gujarat Titans won the IPL in their debut season in 2022.
- GT have reached the play-offs in four of their five seasons; they have missed the top-four only once.
- They face Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 680 runs at a strike rate of 242.85.
- LSG director of cricket Tom Moody said GT’s fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada—benefit when the surface offers help.
Patel’s defence leaned on results and rhythm rather than novelty. Gujarat’s top order—Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler—has been highly effective, and Patel argued their traditional approach has often looked calmer than the higher-risk tempo adopted by many other opening pairs.
Qualifier 2 is set for Friday, with Gujarat set to square up against Rajasthan Royals. For the opposition, the spotlight is on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old who has emerged as a standout performer and currently sits at the top of the run charts with 680 runs, striking at 242.85.
Moody on conditions and the GT pace attack
Tom Moody, director of cricket for LSG, offered a tactical angle ahead of the clash. He suggested that when the playing surface provides assistance, GT’s fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada—come into the game much more frequently and with greater impact.
On the day before the match, Patel said there was no need to tinker with their plan. Gujarat finished the league stage inside the top two, and Patel pointed out that the team’s trajectory has been shaped by sticking to a defined process, even when results in the early part of the campaign were only “okay”.
He also referred to their Qualifier setback to RCB, saying it is not something they intend to dwell on. Patel noted that six teams failed to qualify, underlining that Gujarat’s position reflects a season-level consistency rather than a one-off run.
“We were sitting pretty at number 2 in the points table. I know other teams can think whatever they want to think,” Patel said. “There are 6 teams who have not qualified also, and I know that the references which you have come from—yes, I know Tom Moody has said about GT. But see, we have finished number 2. And we know what kind of cricket we want to play. We back ourselves to give results.”
Patel then expanded on the franchise’s track record. “Since GT’s inception, four out of five years, we have qualified. Results are there for everyone to see. Everybody has their different way of playing. We have our own style of playing,” he said. “Even in the first half of the tournament, we were not doing that great. We were just doing okay. But we still stuck to our process. We trust in our ability. We know what we can do. And that is something which we will try to do tomorrow as well.”
Consistency versus X-factor
Rajasthan’s lineup, though, brings its own kind of dynamism. The Royals have been framed around the “X-factor” of Sooryavanshi along with Jofra Archer, while Gujarat’s identity is rooted in consistency. Patel said his preference was simple: keep focusing on winning cricket rather than chasing a label.
“So as long as we are getting results, we don’t have to think about whether we need an X-factor or consistency. It’s about getting pieces together and getting the result,” Patel said, adding that the match-plan should be judged by outcomes.
Patel also hinted that Gujarat’s approach to Sooryavanshi will be shaped by execution, but the details will stay under wraps until the ball is in play. “Have plans for Sooryavanshi that we will only disclose on field,” he said.
Gujarat will be wary because they have seen what Sooryavanshi can do when he gets rolling. After watching his sensational hitting on Wednesday night, Titans are preparing for the threat while still believing they can control the contest. In their previous league meeting, Gujarat used the short ball only sparingly against him, and Siraj managed to dismiss Sooryavanshi in that game.
Patel reiterated that Gujarat will reveal their tactical direction only once the match begins. “I am not a broadcaster at the moment, so won’t be able to reveal our plans. I am very excited about the way he is batting. Hopefully, we will be able to get him out him early in the game and we will be able to execute our plans,” he said.
He added that discussing Sooryavanshi’s age has become a distracting storyline. “The way he is batting people are liking it. I said the same thing last time as well. We should not be talking about his age,” Patel said. “I think that’s something we need to put an end to it. He’s been a phenomenal talent just the way he’s been playing. And it’s great to see him and just from the opposition’s point of view, we hope that he doesn’t get too many runs,” he concluded.
