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Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel has slammed critics who have put unnecessary external pressure on star batsmen in the GT lineup and management, citing his old-school belief in consistency rather than aggression.
Despite their team’s excellent consistency and performance in the last few seasons in the IPL, Gujarat Titans have faced heavy criticism. The team is extremely successful and never fails to entertain its team, while also increasing its hopes of winning the title every season.
This season too, they finished second on the points table with 18 points and 9 wins, tied with table toppers Royal Challengers Bangalore. The second-place finish helped them qualify for the first qualifier of the IPL 2026 season.
Everyone has a different way of playing: Parthiv Patel confident of Gujarat Titans’ approach in IPL 2026
After their defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, many questions have been raised on the batting strike rates of their run-scorers like Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill.
Backing his approach, which is different from most other openers in the IPL, especially this season, Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel claimed that every team has its own way of playing, and they know very well what kind of cricket they want to play.
“We were sitting at No. 2 in the points table. I know other teams can think whatever they want to think. There are six teams who have not qualified. And I know the context from which you come… Look, we are at No. 2. And we know the kind of cricket we want to play. And we back ourselves to deliver results.
Patel said, “Even in the first half of the tournament, when we were not performing that well, we were still doing okay; we still stuck to our process. We are confident in our ability.”
Patel endorses Sai Sudarshan as a highly aware cricketer
Parthiv Patel was also repeatedly questioned about the batting strike rate of his highest scoring batsman Sai Sudarshan. Sudarshan has been an absolute star for them in the last two seasons and is their highest run-scorer.
He is second after Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the list of highest run scorers this season with 652 runs. However, his strike rate is 152, which is much lower than the openers of other teams. However, according to Patel, Gujarat Titans are quite happy with Sudarshan’s strike rate except for his remarkable consistency.
Not only this, but Patel also said that he has been a match-winner for him, and there is no need for him to change his approach just because someone else is striking 300. While this gives Sudarshan a sense of responsibility, it is one of the major reasons why he is not being included in India’s white-ball teams despite consistent performances.
Gujarat Titans have been the most consistent team since their IPL debut
Gujarat Titans have undoubtedly been one of the most consistent teams in the history of IPL since their debut in 2022. They won the title in the very first season under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya and reached the finals of the next season hoping to defend their title.
The GT assistant coach said, “For the last 4-5 years, we have qualified one year each. We were champions one year, runners-up once. The results are there for all to see. Everyone has their own way of playing. We have our own style of playing.”
Reflecting on their tremendous success, the coach said that the Titans unit is well aware of their strengths and would love to do the same against Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier.
He added, “We know what we can do. And that’s something we’ll try to do tomorrow as well. We think we’re a pretty good unit. And if we go out there and execute our plans, I think we can win that game.”
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