Sanjay Manjrekar’s praise for GT owners comes with direct swipe at Ambanis & MI – Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Gujarat Titans, Takes Dig at Ambanis
The Contrast in IPL Ownership: Manjrekar’s Bold Remarks
Former Indian batsman and veteran cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked an intense discussion across the Indian Premier League (IPL) landscape. Speaking about the operational dynamics of successful franchises, Manjrekar lauded the Gujarat Titans (GT) ownership for their hands-off approach. However, his high praise for the Titans came wrapped in a direct, unmistakable swipe at the high-profile ownership model of the Mumbai Indians (MI), specifically targeting the prominent Ambani family.
Since entering the league in 2022, the Gujarat Titans have established themselves as one of the most consistently dominant teams in the tournament. In just five seasons of participation, the franchise has secured a playoff berth four times, winning the coveted championship title in their very inaugural season. According to Manjrekar, a significant portion of this sustained on-field success is rooted in the franchise’s corporate maturity and the owners’ willingness to stay out of the limelight, letting cricketing experts run the show.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s Direct Swipe at Nita and Akash Ambani
During an insightful conversation with Sportstar, Manjrekar pointed out how the quiet management style of the Gujarat Titans contrasts with other highly visible owners in the league. His comments specifically focused on the physical presence of franchise owners during live matches, referencing the famous sideline seating arrangements.
“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,” Manjrekar remarked.
This comment regarding “owners sitting on the sofas” is widely seen as a direct dig at Nita and Akash Ambani, the mother-son duo who own the Mumbai Indians. Throughout the IPL 2026 season, the Ambanis have been highly visible, sitting on a specialized luxury sofa positioned close to the boundary ropes during Mumbai’s games. This level of proximity has raised eyebrows, especially given that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has previously introduced strict regulations to limit franchise owners from directly interacting with players and coaching staff during active match hours.
How Gujarat Titans Maintained Stability Through Ownership Changes
What makes the Gujarat Titans’ journey even more impressive is their ability to navigate major off-field transitions without losing their competitive edge. Prior to the current season, the franchise underwent a major ownership shift when the Torrent Group acquired a majority stake from the founding owners, CVC Capital. Despite this massive corporate transition, there was absolutely no disruption to the team’s on-field performance.
Rather than shaking up the management structure, the new ownership group maintained total faith in the existing leadership. Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki, a former England international with extensive corporate experience, continued to oversee the administrative and operational side of the franchise. On the field, head coach Ashish Nehra remained the constant guiding force, ensuring that the team’s winning culture was preserved.
Analyzing GT’s Resilient Campaign in IPL 2026
The Gujarat Titans’ path to the IPL 2026 playoffs was a testament to their resilience and tactical discipline. The franchise experienced a highly volatile first half of the season, struggling to find consistent rhythm. In their opening seven matches, GT registered a three-match winning streak that was sandwiched between two separate, frustrating two-match losing streaks.
However, the Titans completely turned their campaign around in the second half of the tournament. Putting their early-season volatility behind them, they unleashed a dominant five-match winning streak. Although they dropped one game later on, they bounced back immediately to win their final league match. This late-season surge secured them a second-place finish on the points table, marking a one-place improvement from their league standing in the previous season.
The Core Elements of GT’s Winning Formula
Despite being occasionally criticized by analysts for employing a “slow and conventional” brand of cricket, the Titans have proven that their methodology delivers results. Their success in IPL 2026 can be attributed to several core factors:
- The Dynamic Top Three: The opening partnership of captain Shubman Gill and talented left-hander Sai Sudharsan has been the bedrock of GT’s batting. Alongside English star Jos Buttler at number three, this trio has consistently scored the bulk of the team’s runs, laying solid foundations in almost every match.
- A Lethal Pace Attack: Beyond the top-order heavy lifting, the pace unit led by the formidable Kagiso Rabada and the experienced Jason Holder has consistently delivered crucial breakthroughs, keeping opposition batting lineups under immense pressure.
- The Resurgence of Rashid Khan: After enduring a challenging period where he seemed to have lost his signature rhythm and touch, ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan bounced back spectacularly to anchor the spin department during the crucial phases of the tournament.
All Eyes on the Qualifier 1 Clash in Dharamsala
Having locked in the second spot on the points table, the Gujarat Titans are now heading to the picturesque venue of Dharamsala for the highly anticipated Qualifier 1 match on Tuesday. They are set to face the table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
The stakes for this match could not be higher. The winner of Qualifier 1 will book a direct ticket to the grand IPL final, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on May 31. On the other hand, the losing side will not be eliminated immediately; instead, they will receive a second opportunity to reach the final by competing in Qualifier 2, which will be held in Mullanpur on May 27.
