New Delhi: The Gujarat Titans arrived in Ahmedabad late at night on the eve of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31. After defeating the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh, the Titans were poised to compete for their second title.
The team’s flight was delayed due to severe weather conditions, specifically torrential rain affecting north-western India. Consequently, authorities were unable to issue a take-off clearance for the Titans in Chandigarh, and the team finally arrived in Ahmedabad after 10 PM, leaving them with less than 24 hours to prepare for the crucial match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
GT Faces Unprecedented Travel
The Titans, who were crowned champions in 2022, have experienced significant travel during the IPL playoffs. After their last league-stage match against the Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad, they traveled to Dharamsala for Qualifier 1 against RCB, in which they suffered a defeat. Subsequently, they journeyed to Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, for Qualifier 2, where they triumphed over the 2008 champions by seven wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 215 runs.
With the final scheduled at their home ground in Ahmedabad and only a day’s gap between Qualifier 2 and the final, the Titans faced tight scheduling exacerbated by flight delays.
Arrival Updates Shared on Social Media
The Titans kept their fans informed of their activities leading up to the final, sharing videos of their arrival in Ahmedabad, where they were welcomed by numerous fans at the airport. A video depicting their arrival was posted at 1:19 AM.
In contrast, RCB, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, had time for two comprehensive practice sessions. This marks a unique situation where a team has traveled just one day before the final, a scenario stemming from the BCCI’s decision to select three venues for hosting the playoffs: Dharamsala, New Chandigarh, and Ahmedabad, rather than the previous two.
“There is some sort of advantage, but not a huge one because both teams are very good and have played excellent cricket,” said RCB player Rajat Patidar when discussing the benefits of their earlier arrival compared to GT’s last-minute travel. “After Qualifier 1, we got enough time to rest and recover, while GT is coming straight from Qualifier 2.”
