RCB Gains Advantage as Gujarat Titans Face Travel Delay Before IPL 2026 Final
Gujarat Titans reached Ahmedabad later than planned due to bad weather, reducing rest and practice time, while RCB entered the IPL 2026 final with better preparation.
Just hours before the IPL 2026 final, Gujarat Titans have been handed an unexpected setback that could impact their preparations for the title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Adverse weather conditions delayed the team’s arrival in Ahmedabad, leaving them with very little time to recover and train ahead of the season’s biggest match.
After defeating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, Gujarat Titans had planned to travel to Ahmedabad on Saturday afternoon. However, heavy rain and strong winds across parts of Punjab and Rajasthan disrupted flight operations at Chandigarh Airport, forcing the team’s charter flight to remain grounded for several hours.
The delay meant Gujarat Titans could not reach Ahmedabad until Saturday evening. With the final scheduled less than 24 hours later, the players were left with limited opportunities for rest and virtually no time for a proper training session before stepping onto the field.
In contrast, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their place in the final earlier by winning Qualifier 1. The team arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday itself and has already completed two full practice sessions. The additional preparation time has allowed the squad to recover physically and fine tune its plans for the championship encounter.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar acknowledged that his team benefited from the schedule. He noted that the break after Qualifier 1 gave players enough time to recover, while Gujarat Titans had to come directly from a high intensity knockout match. At the same time, he maintained that both teams deserved their place in the final after performing consistently throughout the tournament.
Despite the travel concerns surrounding Gujarat Titans, weather conditions in Ahmedabad are expected to remain favourable for the final. Unlike recent venues that experienced rain interruptions, current forecasts indicate no major threat of rainfall during the title clash.
The venue also carries memories of one of the most dramatic IPL finals. Ahmedabad hosted the IPL 2023 final, a rain affected contest that ended with Chennai Super Kings lifting the trophy after a thrilling finish. Fans will now be hoping for another memorable night as RCB and Gujarat Titans battle for IPL 2026 glory.
