"Couldn't get going in Powerplay": GT batting coach Matthew Hayden after team's loss to RCB in IPL 2026 final
Ahmedabad, June 1
Gujarat Titans batting coach Matthew Hayden pointed out the team's inability to utilise the Powerplay overs in the Indian Premier League 2026 final after the Shubman Gill-led side lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by five wickets as the Rajat Patidar-led side successfully defended their title.
Asked to bat first, GT endured a difficult start, managing only 45 runs while losing the crucial wickets of captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan--their two highest run-scorers of the season--during the Powerplay. RCB maintained control through disciplined new-ball bowling and effective spin in the middle overs, triggering a batting collapse that prevented GT from building momentum in the final. The Titans eventually posted 155/8 in 20 overs, a target that RCB comfortably chased down in 18 overs to clinch the IPL 2026 title.
"Always hard to put it down to one thing for a season that's so long. We have apex predators but couldn't get going in the Powerplay. All our bowlers have been amazing. It's a very successful franchise. We've developed a nice fanbase that's sticking behind Gill, Sai and Buttler. This group is calm, does nothing urgently. Nehra is chilled out. Biggest thing in this franchise is family, that'll keep it in good stead," Hayden said after the match.
Hayden also highlighted the impressive performances of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who ended the season as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs, and encouraged young cricketers to keep playing, learning, and drawing inspiration from their heroes.
"Experience as coach was beyond my expectations. It was more detailed with bowling plans. We're a conservative batting side but crush the ball out of the ground at times. Credit to all our staff, makes it possible for us to play harder and recover quicker. Trying to understand what's happened is difficult. One thing the IPL brings out is young talent. It's exciting to watch the extraordinary Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. All you youngsters watching out there just keep playing and keep learning from your heroes," Hayden said.
Put to bat first by RCB, GT scored just 155/8 in 20 overs, with Washington Sundar (50* in 37 balls, with five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 in 18 balls, with three fours) being the only one to cross the 20-run mark. Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) took wickets regularly.RCB started off well with a 62-run stand between Venkatesh Iyer (32 in 16 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Virat Kohli.
GT showed some fight, reducing RCB to 132/5 at one point, but Virat (75* in 42 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) guided RCB to a win with two overs left.This is RCB's second IPL title win and overall their fourth Indian franchise cricket trophy, including two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an RCB fan from Bangalore, I'm over the moon! 🥳 Second IPL title and beating GT in their own backyard in Ahmedabad. Virat Kohli showed his class again with that 75* in a final—the man just delivers when it counts. But I have to say, GT's bowling attack looked very ordinary in the death overs. Rashik Dar Salam was brilliant though, 3/27 in a final is top-notch.
Honestly disappointed with GT's batting approach. Playing too conservatively in the powerplay when you need to attack. Washington Sundar's 50* was a saving grace but came too late. And why didn't they use Mohit Sharma or Rashid Khan more aggressively? Nehra ji and Hayden need to rethink their strategy. But good to see Nishant Sindhu get some time in the middle. #GTforLife
Classic IPL final—high drama, Virat masterclass, and RCB finally winning multiple trophies. But I feel for Matthew Hayden. He's done a fantastic job with the young Indian talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Nishant Sindhu. The "family franchise" culture he talks about is exactly what develops homegrown stars. RCB were just better on the day—Bhuvi and Hazlewood's new-ball spells were lethal.
Hayden is right that you can't blame one thing. The season was long and GT played well overall. But as a Gujarat fan, I feel they missed a trick by not letting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat higher up the order in the final. The guy scored 776 runs in the season! Give him the Powerplay overs. That's a tactical error. Nonetheless, congratulations to RCB—well deserved second title. 🏆
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