GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel hopes to get VaibhavSooryavanshi out early

The Gujarat Titans assistant coach says the team trusts its own style despite criticism, while acknowledging Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary rise.

Gujarat Titans (GT) prepares for a high-pressure Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026. Amidst this, GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel made it clear that the team has no intention of changing its approach, regardless of outside criticism. Over the last few weeks, several cricket experts and rival teams have labelled the Gujarat Titans “predictable” for their measured batting style. But according to Parthiv Patel, consistency matters more than perception.

“Results speak for themselves.”

Speaking ahead of Friday’s knockout encounter, Parthiv defended the Gujarat Titans’ style of cricket by pointing to the franchise’s impressive record since entering the IPL in 2022. GT won the IPL title in their debut season and, remarkably, have missed the playoffs only once in their short history. For Parthiv, that consistency is proof enough that the team’s strategy works. “We know what kind of cricket we want to play, and we trust ourselves,” Parthiv said. “Everybody has a different style. Ours has brought results consistently.” He also brushed aside recent comments made by cricket experts, including criticism suggesting that Gujarat’s fast bowlers become effective only when conditions favour them. Parthiv admitted the team did not have a perfect first half of the season, but said they never drifted from their process. “We weren’t extraordinary at the start, but we stayed patient and backed our plans. That’s something we’ll continue doing,” he added.

The VaibhavSooryavanshi challenge.

However, standing in GT’s way is one of the most exciting stories of this IPL season — 15-year-old sensation VaibhavSooryavanshi. The Rajasthan Royals youngster has stunned fans and experts alike with fearless batting far beyond his age. With 680 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 242.85, Vaibhav has emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest game-changers. Naturally, the Gujarat Titans know stopping him early could be crucial. Parthiv joked, “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get him out early,” Parthiv said with a smile, while refusing to reveal the team’s exact plans. “We have our strategies, but those are for the field, not for press conferences.” Despite being part of the opposition camp, Parthiv had nothing but praise for the teenager. He said the cricketing world should now move beyond discussions around Vaibhav’s age and focus instead on his talent. He said, “The way he’s batting is phenomenal. People should stop talking about whether he’s 15 or not. Talent like this deserves appreciation.”

Parthiv added that while fans are enjoying Vaibhav’s fearless hitting, the Gujarat Titans will be hoping the young batter has a rare quiet outing when the two teams meet.