Gujarat Titans’ road to the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad has been far from smooth, with Shubman Gill’s side arriving late after a weather-driven disruption that has left them with less than a day to prepare. The Titans—who confirmed their spot in the summit clash by beating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday—were due to take a charter flight from Chandigarh on Saturday afternoon. But severe conditions across north-western India, particularly around Punjab, caused serious interruptions to airport operations, delaying several departures and ultimately pushing the Titans’ arrival back to around 10:30 pm on Saturday.
That late landing means Gujarat have a compressed schedule for everything from training sessions to match-day planning ahead of Sunday’s title match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The timing also becomes more striking given the way the BCCI has arranged this season’s playoffs, with IPL knockout games staged across three different venues—marking the first time a team has had to travel so soon before a final. In contrast, RCB reached Ahmedabad on Wednesday, giving them extra time to recover, practise, and settle into routine ahead of their second consecutive final appearance.
Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has suggested the final should have been pushed back by one day to make the situation “a little fair” for Gujarat. He pointed out that uncertainty over travel and delays can affect players both mentally and physically. Gavaskar said that when the departure time is unclear, it creates anxiety and that “you are mentally also off” in addition to the physical strain. He added that, given the circumstances were completely unexpected, organisers could have used the reserve day and shifted the match to allow Gujarat Titans more breathing room.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar, while acknowledging that travelling earlier can bring certain benefits, played down any idea that it would be decisive. He noted that after Qualifier 1, his team had sufficient time to rest and recover, whereas Gujarat were coming directly from Qualifier 2. Patidar said there is “some sort of advantage,” but insisted it would not be significant because both sides have been playing high-quality cricket.
Weather remains another major talking point in Ahmedabad, which is set to host its fourth IPL final. Current forecasts point to clear conditions for Sunday’s match, though the city’s recent memory of rain has not faded—especially after the rain-affected 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. That game ran into the reserve day, and once the organisers extended the playing window by two hours, the contest eventually finished in the early hours.
For Gujarat, Sunday’s final is a chance to lift the trophy for a second time, following their first IPL title in 2022. They narrowly missed out on repeating the feat in 2023, losing to Chennai Super Kings off the final ball in one of the most dramatic finals of the tournament’s history. In that match, Ravindra Jadeja’s late heroics ultimately ensured CSK claimed their fifth title.
