Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel said on 31 May 2026 that familiarity with home conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad gives his side a clear advantage heading into the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Patel stated the team knows the surface 'very well' and intends to capitalise on that knowledge in what is GT's third IPL final in five years.

Road to the Final

Gujarat Titans finished second on the points table before suffering a defeat to RCB in Qualifier 1. They bounced back emphatically in Qualifier 2, beating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to book their place in the summit clash. Notably, GT won the IPL title in Ahmedabad in 2022, making this return to the same venue a full-circle moment for the franchise.

Patel on Home Advantage and Pitch No. 6

'There is an advantage, yes. We know the conditions are very good. We know the conditions very well. That remains an advantage. Mostly, in a final match, your effort is to get a good start and then proceed,' Patel told broadcasters in a pre-final interaction.

Asked specifically about pitch number six — the same surface used in GT's league-stage win over RCB — Patel was measured: 'These things do not matter much in a final match. You try to execute the plans you have made. And since it is our home ground, we know how the conditions are, where they change, what kind of conditions they are. But certainly, we have to play well.'

Travel Disruption and Team Mindset

The Titans' journey from Chandigarh to Ahmedabad was delayed due to inclement weather, but Patel dismissed any concern over fatigue. 'Obviously, the weather was not in our control. But we keep watching. Our thinking is that we know we have come to play the IPL final. So fatigue does not matter that much,' he said.

He added that every player in the squad is focused on a single objective: 'For every player, there is only one thing on their mind — to win the match for the team and make a name for themselves. No player can get a bigger match or a better opportunity than this.'

Batting Depth and Key Contributors

Patel praised the team's batting unit, highlighting captain Shubman Gill and left-handed opener B Sai Sudharsan as the pillars of the top order. 'Our top order has batted very well throughout the tournament. They have contributed every time,' he said.

He also credited the lower order for stepping up when called upon: 'Whenever an opportunity arose — whether it was Washington Sundar, the lower order, or Rahul Tewatia — everyone has contributed. Everyone has performed well.' Patel expressed confidence that the same collective effort would show up in the final.

Support Staff: The Backbone

Signing off, Patel reserved special praise for the GT support staff, describing them as indispensable. 'The Titans support staff are like family. The support and backup we receive from them is immense and they help us during close games and in pressure situations,' he said. This comes amid a broader recognition across IPL franchises of the growing role backroom teams play in deep tournament runs.

With the final set at their fortress in Ahmedabad, all eyes will be on whether Gujarat Titans can convert home familiarity into a second IPL title.