Gujarat Titans’ season ended on a grim note after the IPL 2026 final defeat, but the franchise narrowly avoided something far worse when a fire broke out on their team bus. Reports indicate that a short circuit triggered the blaze, and while the incident created panic, the players were evacuated without serious injury. The bus was on its way back from the Narendra Modi Stadium to the hotel in Ahmedabad on Sunday night when the problem occurred.
Bus fire after the IPL final: players evacuated safely
The fire left the Titans stranded for roughly an hour, but the situation was brought under control and everyone was kept safe. The team’s escape from a potentially dangerous moment came after a disappointing finish to the final itself, adding yet another setback to an already difficult evening.
Timeline of travel troubles for GT
The bus incident was the latest in a chain of travel disruptions for Gujarat Titans. Earlier in the schedule, their itinerary demanded a demanding route through multiple cities before the business end of the tournament.
- On May 27, GT travelled from Dharamsala to Mullanpur ahead of Qualifier 2.
- Qualifier 2 was played against Rajasthan Royals on May 29.
- GT’s planned departure to Ahmedabad on May 30 was delayed due to poor weather conditions in Mullanpur.
- The team reached their home base late on Saturday evening.
- Sunday night saw the bus return from the Narendra Modi Stadium to the hotel in Ahmedabad, when the short circuit is said to have caused the fire.
Solanki addresses fatigue and the final’s outcome vs RCB
Following the defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL final on Sunday, Gujarat Titans’ Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki spoke candidly about the match and how the schedule may have weighed on the team. RCB won by five wickets, and Solanki acknowledged that the Titans’ innings—posted at 155/8—fell below the par mark, even as his side fought hard to defend it.
Key points from the post-match press conference
- Solanki said he does not want to diminish RCB’s achievement by framing the outcome purely around fatigue.
- He referenced the compressed nature of the tournament’s later-stage matches and said that tiredness became a factor, while stressing it was not the team’s intended explanation for their performance.
- He noted that 155/8 was below par, but added that the Titans showed determination in an attempt to hold the total.
- Solanki indicated that the team could always review what might have been handled differently, but emphasized that opponents can also play exceptionally well.
- He concluded that the result must also be understood in light of RCB’s strong performance, rather than solely attributing it to GT’s condition.
