Sanjay Manjrekar’s praise for GT owners comes with direct swipe at Ambanis & MI – Sanjay Manjrekar Praises GT Owners With Direct Swipe at Ambanis

Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Gujarat Titans’ Hands-Off Ownership Model

The Gujarat Titans (GT) have established themselves as one of the most consistent and successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since their inception in 2022. Their remarkable ability to find success on the field has captured the attention of cricket pundits worldwide. Recently, former India batter and seasoned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar showered praise on the franchise’s leadership structure. However, his appreciation for the Titans’ owners came wrapped in a direct, thinly-veiled swipe at the ownership style of the Mumbai Indians (MI), specifically targeting the Ambani family.

The ‘Sofa’ Jibe: Manjrekar’s Direct Target

Speaking in an interview with Sportstar, Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted what makes the Gujarat Titans stand out in a league often dominated by high-profile, highly visible owners. Manjrekar pointed out that GT’s management prefers to stay out of the spotlight, allowing the cricketing experts to run the show. During his analysis, he made a comment that raised eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity.

Manjrekar stated: “It is actually a remarkable story because it is a new franchise, and it is not a franchise where you see the owners sitting on the sofas; they are not in your face as such. Nobody knows the owners. The person handling the operations is a former England cricketer (Vikram Solanki), with a corporate background. So, it is a very interesting franchise, and their performances have been brilliant. Somewhere, Ashish Nehra, who has been the constant, should take a lot of pride in that.”

The reference to owners “sitting on the sofas” is widely interpreted as a direct dig at Nita and Akash Ambani, the prominent mother-son duo who own the Mumbai Indians. Throughout the IPL 2026 season, the Ambanis have been frequently spotted sitting on a specialized sofa placed near the boundary ropes during Mumbai Indians’ matches. This highly visible presence has drawn attention, particularly in light of previous BCCI regulations aimed at restricting team owners from interacting directly with players during the course of a match. By contrasting this with GT’s low-profile ownership, Manjrekar made his preference for a hands-off administrative style abundantly clear.

Smooth Transition and On-Field Consistency

The Gujarat Titans’ success is even more impressive considering they underwent a major ownership transition last year. The Torrent Group acquired a majority stake in the franchise from its founding owners, CVC Capital. Despite this significant off-field change, the team’s on-field performances remained completely unaffected. This seamless transition speaks volumes about the robust organizational structure put in place by Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki and head coach Ashish Nehra.

Since entering the league in 2022, the Titans have qualified for the playoffs in four out of the five seasons they have played, clinching the coveted championship trophy in their debut year. In IPL 2026, they continued their dominant run, putting together a stellar campaign to finish second on the points table—improving by one spot compared to their previous season’s finish.

How Gujarat Titans Turned Their IPL 2026 Campaign Around

The road to the playoffs was not entirely smooth for the Titans in IPL 2026. The first half of their season was characterized by inconsistency and volatility. In their opening seven fixtures, GT experienced a mixed bag of results, securing a three-match winning streak that was sandwiched directly between two separate two-match losing streaks. At that stage, critics questioned whether the team could sustain a playoff push.

However, the second half of the tournament saw a completely rejuvenated Gujarat Titans side. They ironed out their inconsistencies and embarked on a roaring five-match winning streak, tearing through the opposition before finally dropping a single game. They bounced back immediately to win their final league match, securing a top-two finish on the points table and guaranteeing themselves two chances at reaching the grand finale.

The Key Architects of GT’s Success

A large portion of Gujarat’s consistency can be attributed to their phenomenal top-order batting. The opening combination of captain Shubman Gill and the elegant left-hander Sai Sudharsan has consistently laid solid foundations for the team. Alongside England’s Jos Buttler, who has excelled at the number three position, these three batters have shouldered the vast majority of the team’s run-scoring responsibilities.

While some critics have occasionally targeted the Titans for playing a “slow and conventional” brand of cricket, the formula has proven to be incredibly effective. Beyond the top-order heavyweights, GT’s bowling department has delivered outstanding performances. The pace attack, led by the experienced duo of Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder, has consistently picked up crucial wickets. Additionally, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who had struggled to find his signature touch over the past year, rediscovered his rhythm at the perfect time to bolster the spin department.

The Road to the Finals: Qualifier 1 Clash in Dharamsala

Having secured the second spot on the points table, the Gujarat Titans are now gearing up for the high-stakes playoffs. They will travel to the scenic stadium in Dharamsala to face the table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.

The stakes for this encounter could not be higher. The winner of Qualifier 1 will book a direct ticket to the IPL 2026 final, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on May 31. Meanwhile, the losing side will not be eliminated but will instead receive a second opportunity to reach the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2, which will be held in Mullanpur on May 27. With both teams in stellar form, cricket fans can expect an absolute blockbuster of a contest as Nehra’s clinical Titans take on a formidable RCB lineup.