Stormy conditions have pushed back Gujarat Titans’ arrival in Ahmedabad ahead of Sunday’s IPL final, leaving the franchise with under a day to fine-tune their preparations for what is their third home final. The Titans will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with both sides set to meet on GT’s home turf after an unusually disrupted lead-in for the Gujarat outfit.
Gujarat Titans were scheduled to leave Chandigarh on Saturday afternoon by charter after their win over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday. However, heavy rain across north-western India—particularly around Punjab and Rajasthan—prevented airport authorities from granting take-off clearance from Chandigarh, which delayed multiple departures from the city. The Titans are now expected to land in Ahmedabad only after 10pm, after which they will make their way to their hotel in Gandhinagar, a further roughly 30-minute drive.
The delayed travel marks a first in the tournament’s scheduling pattern: it is the first time a team has had to make the journey to the final a day ahead, following the BCCI’s decision to stage three playoff matches across three different venues rather than the two-location format used earlier. In contrast, Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached Ahmedabad earlier, arriving on Wednesday, and were able to complete two full training sessions in the build-up to their second consecutive IPL final.
When asked whether the early arrival could be viewed as a benefit, Patidar pointed to the timing and rhythm of the campaign. He said that after Qualifier 1, the team had enough time to rest and recover, while Gujarat Titans were coming straight from Qualifier 2. Patidar also stressed that any advantage would be limited, adding that both teams are strong and have been playing high-quality cricket.
Sunday’s final will be the fourth IPL final hosted in Ahmedabad. Current forecasts suggest clear weather, but the city has previously been impacted by rain in this stage of the competition. The final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in 2023 was heavily affected by showers and had to be pushed to a reserve day. That match ultimately concluded in the early hours of the third day, after organisers were forced to implement a two-hour extension to finish the contest.
For Gujarat Titans, the focus is on capturing a second championship. They lifted the trophy in 2022, but came agonisingly close to defending it the following year, falling just one ball short against Chennai Super Kings. Ravindra Jadeja’s match-winning impact ultimately swung the contest in favour of the MS Dhoni-led side, who went on to secure a fifth title.
