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In the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered a loss by three wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Following the loss, GT`s assistant coach Parthiv Patel feels that due to the rain, the ball was coming on the bat nicely in the second innings of the match. He also said that had everything gone their way, the Titans would have secured a win.
“The match went to the 20th over. A wicket here or there, and maybe even 160 runs wouldn`t have been chased. Due to the rain, the dry pitch started to play better. The ball was skidding and coming onto the bat nicely, and the outfield also became a bit wet. If everything had gone our way, maybe we could have won this match,” he said in the post-match conference.
“As I said, the Punjab bowlers, the way they bowled in the final overs, PBKS bowled cleverly towards the end,” added Patel.
When asked about the competitive first innings total in the format, the assistant coach said that it depends on the conditions, which in turn make a huge difference.
“Whichever match gives us two points, we would prefer that. It doesn`t matter whether it`s a 200-game or a 140 chasing-down game. Yeah, obviously, there was a contest here without a doubt, a 160-game contest. But it depends, the conditions make a big difference in this T20 format,” he said.
He then cited the example of Team India`s batting display during the concluded T20 World Cup 2026.
“Even in the World Cup, we saw India could not chase down 180 against South Africa and then the flat wicket came and India scored 250 in the final. So, the condition makes a big difference. There is no doubt about it. And as long as everyone`s entertained and as long as we`re on the winning side, it doesn`t matter much,” said the 41-year-old former cricketer.
GT will now lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their upcoming fixture on April 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans: Full Squad
Ishant Sharma, Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Tewatia, Luke Wood, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Shubman Gill (C), Tom Banton (WK), Yarra Raj, Anuj Rawat, Sai Sudharsan, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Arshad Khan, Nishant Sandhu, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.
(With ANI Inputs)
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