Sanjay Manjrekar’s praise for GT owners comes with direct swipe at Ambanis & MI – Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Gujarat Titans, Takes Dig at Ambanis
Sanjay Manjrekar Applauds Gujarat Titans’ Backroom Management
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Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded the Gujarat Titans (GT) ownership structure for their hands-off approach to cricket operations. Since their inception in 2022, the Titans have established themselves as one of the most consistent franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Manjrekar’s praise did not come without a sharp, direct swipe at the prominent ownership style seen at franchises like the Mumbai Indians (MI), specifically targeting the Ambani family.
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The Subtle Sofa Dig: Manjrekar’s Swipe at the Ambanis
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Speaking to Sportstar about what makes the Gujarat Titans such a successful and unique franchise, Manjrekar pointed out the stark contrast between their owners and those of other teams. In doing so, he made a comment that many cricket fans and analysts have interpreted as a direct dig at Nita and Akash Ambani, the mother-son duo who own the Mumbai Indians.
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Manjrekar remarked: “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.”
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This reference to “owners sitting on the sofas” points directly to the Mumbai Indians’ setup. Throughout the current IPL season, the Ambanis have been frequently spotted sitting on a specialized sofa placed right near the boundary ropes during Mumbai’s matches. This highly visible presence has often drawn attention, especially given the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its regulations regarding how much interaction franchise owners can have with players and staff during live matches. By highlighting GT’s contrasting approach, Manjrekar underlined the benefits of keeping ownership in the background.
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A Transition of Ownership with Zero On-Field Friction
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What makes the Gujarat Titans’ success even more impressive is how they have navigated major off-field changes. Last year, the franchise saw a significant shift in its ownership structure when the Torrent Group acquired a majority stake from the original owners, CVC Capital. Despite such a massive corporate transition, there was absolutely no drop in the team’s on-field performances.
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Since joining the IPL in 2022, the Titans have qualified for the playoffs in four of the five seasons they have competed in, even capturing the coveted trophy in their very first year. Manjrekar attributed much of this stability to head coach Ashish Nehra and Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki, emphasizing how the coaching staff has been allowed to run the cricketing side of things without external interference.
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How Gujarat Titans Turned Their IPL 2026 Campaign Around
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The Titans’ performance in IPL 2026 is a testament to their resilience. After a relatively quiet and volatile first half of the season, the team staged a roaring comeback in the second half. In their initial seven matches, GT experienced a highly unpredictable run, securing a three-match winning streak sandwiched between two separate two-match losing streaks.
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However, they quickly ironed out these inconsistencies. In the second half of the tournament, the Gujarat Titans embarked on a spectacular five-match winning streak. Although they dropped one game toward the end, they bounced back to win their final league match. This late-season surge secured them a second-place finish on the points table, finishing one spot higher than they did the previous year.
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The Formula: Conventional Cricket and Key Performers
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While the Gujarat Titans are occasionally criticized by pundits for playing a “slow and conventional” brand of cricket, their results speak for themselves. Their consistency this season has been heavily anchored by their top-order batting. The opening partnership of skipper Shubman Gill and the elegant left-hander Sai Sudharsan has consistently laid solid foundations, with England’s Jos Buttler providing crucial stability and firepower at the number three spot.
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Beyond the top three, GT’s bowling department has risen to the occasion. The pace attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and the experienced Jason Holder, has consistently delivered key breakthroughs. Additionally, premier spinner Rashid Khan, who had struggled to find his usual lethal touch over the past year, stepped up in crucial moments to bolster the bowling department’s efficiency.
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All Eyes on Dharamsala for Qualifier 1
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Having locked down the second spot on the points table, the Gujarat Titans are now heading to the picturesque stadium in Dharamsala. They are scheduled to face the table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.
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The stakes could not be higher. The winner of this blockbuster clash will book a direct ticket to the IPL 2026 Final, set to take place in Ahmedabad on May 31. On the other hand, the losing side will still have a lifeline, heading to Mullanpur on May 27 to play in Qualifier 2 for another shot at reaching the grand finale.
