When former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was asked about Gujarat Titans earlier this week, he admitted he never expected them to be sitting in pole position this deep into IPL 2026. Coming from one of the sharpest cricketing minds in the country, that statement carried weight.
And even after their five-match winning streak was finally broken by Kolkata Knight Riders, the larger point still stands.
While everyone else in IPL 2026 was making headlines through chaos — 986-run weekends, 36-ball centuries and impossible chases — Gujarat Titans quietly built something much harder to sustain in T20 cricket: consistency.
KKR may have stopped the streak, but they have not changed the reality that GT remain one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
The Winning Run That Changed Their Season
GT did not begin IPL 2026 as overwhelming favorites.
RCB were the defending champions. SRH had the most explosive batting lineup in the league. Punjab Kings looked unstoppable during the first half of the season. Gujarat were viewed as solid contenders, not table-toppers.
Then the winning streak started.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan began turning starts into match-winning partnerships consistently. Jos Buttler found rhythm at exactly the right moment after a slow beginning to the season. Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar started controlling middle overs together while Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada became one of the most dangerous new-ball combinations in IPL 2026.
The result was simple: five straight victories and a near-certain playoff qualification.
Why GT Still Feel Different
The reason Gujarat still look dangerous despite the KKR defeat is because their success has never depended on one extraordinary performance.
Unlike several teams this season, GT have rarely needed miracles.
They defend totals calmly. They read conditions well. They rarely lose tactical control of matches. Even Ashwin pointed out how effectively Gujarat have used home conditions and built game plans around them.
This is a side that understands exactly how it wants to play cricket.
Rashid Khan remains the heartbeat of the bowling attack. His economy rate continues to be among the best in the competition while Siraj and Rabada have consistently struck inside the powerplay. GT as a team have taken more wickets in the powerplay than almost every other side this season, giving their spinners control rather than pressure.
Gill’s Calm Leadership
Shubman Gill’s captaincy has quietly become one of the stories of IPL 2026.
At 26, he leads with a calmness that makes pressure situations feel smaller than they are. There is very little panic in the way GT operate. They absorb momentum shifts better than most teams in the league and rarely appear emotionally rushed.
That composure is becoming their biggest strength heading into the playoffs.
GT missed qualification only once since entering the IPL in 2022. Every other season they have reached the playoffs, including two finals appearances.
That level of consistency is not accidental anymore.
KKR may have ended the streak. But Gujarat Titans still look like the team everyone else will want to avoid in IPL 2026.
