A Short Circuit, A Roadside Wait and a Final Defeat: GT's Dramatic End to IPL 2026

What began as heartbreak on the field nearly turned into a far more serious concern off it for the Gujarat Titans late on Sunday night, as players and support staff were forced to evacuate their team bus after a short circuit triggered a breakdown while returning from the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.

The incident occurred shortly after Gujarat Titans suffered a five wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium, ending their hopes of securing a second IPL title. According to reports, smoke began spreading inside the vehicle after an electrical fault developed, prompting an immediate evacuation of everyone on board. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and all players, coaches and support staff members were moved to safety before the situation escalated further. The team was left stranded on the roadside for a brief period before an alternative bus arrived to take them back to their hotel.

The frightening episode capped a miserable evening for a side that had already endured disappointment in the final. Chasing their second IPL crown after their title winning campaign in 2022, Gujarat Titans failed to deliver their best performance on the biggest stage. After being restricted to 155/8 , they watched Royal Challengers Bengaluru complete the chase with five wickets to spare , securing a historic back to back IPL title .

The final came at the end of a demanding and exhausting travel schedule for the Titans. After losing Qualifier 1 to Bengaluru, Gujarat travelled to Mullanpur for Qualifier 2, where captain Shubman Gill produced a magnificent century to guide the team past Rajasthan Royals and into the final. The squad then faced weather related travel disruptions while attempting to return to Ahmedabad, eventually reaching home only on Saturday evening, less than 24 hours before the title clash.

The packed schedule sparked debate over player workload and recovery time. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned whether the finalists had been given adequate rest before such an important match, suggesting tournament organisers could have considered postponing the final by a day. Vikram Solanki , Gujarat Titans' Director of Cricket, however, refused to blame fatigue for the defeat. Acknowledging that his side had posted a below par total, he credited Bengaluru for outperforming his team on the biggest occasion of the season.

Though the bus scare ended without casualties, it provided a dramatic and unsettling conclusion to a campaign that had promised so much. For Gujarat Titans, the journey home after the IPL final became symbolic of a season that ended with disappointment, exhaustion and an unexpected brush with danger.