Sanjay Manjrekar’s praise for GT owners comes with direct swipe at Ambanis & MI – Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Gujarat Titans’ Ownership Model, Takes Dig at Mumbai Indians
A Masterclass in Quiet Leadership
In the high-stakes world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where marketing, celebrity presence, and brand visibility often overshadow the game itself, the Gujarat Titans (GT) have emerged as an anomaly. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar recently highlighted this unique operational philosophy, pointing out that the Titans’ success is deeply rooted in the fact that their owners prefer to stay away from the limelight.
Since their inception in 2022, the Titans have been a juggernaut of consistency. Reaching the playoffs in four out of five seasons, including a debut title, is no small feat. Despite a recent transition in ownership from CVC Capital to the Torrent Group, the team’s on-field performance has remained remarkably insulated from corporate turbulence.
The Strategy Behind the Success
Manjrekar, in a recent interview, attributed the franchise’s sustained brilliance to its management structure. He specifically praised the ownership for allowing Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki to oversee operations without interference. This delegation of power ensures that cricketing decisions remain strictly in the hands of professionals.
“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 with a corporate background. So, it is a very interesting franchise, and their performances have been brilliant,” Manjrekar noted.
A Subtly Targeted Critique
While Manjrekar’s praise for the Titans was clear, his mention of “owners sitting on the sofas” was widely interpreted as a sharp, direct swipe at the Mumbai Indians’ owners, Nita and Akash Ambani. The Ambani family has become a permanent fixture on the boundary ropes throughout IPL 2026, often seated on a specialized sofa area. This level of proximity has previously drawn scrutiny regarding BCCI regulations about owner-player interactions during matches.
Performance and Consistency
The Titans’ consistency this season has been driven by a balanced combination of grit and skill. Despite initial volatility in the first half of the tournament, the team stabilized to finish second on the points table. The leadership of skipper Shubman Gill, combined with the explosive form of Sai Sudharsan and the reliability of Jos Buttler, has formed the backbone of their batting lineup.
Furthermore, the team’s ability to evolve has been lauded. While critics have often labeled their style as “slow and conventional,” the results remain indisputable. The pace battery, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder, has provided the necessary bite in the bowling department, while Rashid Khan’s resurgence has solidified their status as genuine title contenders.
Manjrekar also made sure to credit head coach Ashish Nehra for acting as the constant force behind the team’s culture. Nehra’s ability to foster a professional environment where players feel empowered has clearly translated into the team’s impressive output.
Looking Ahead to the Qualifiers
As the tournament heads into its business end, the Gujarat Titans are preparing for a high-stakes Qualifier 1 clash against table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala. The stakes are immense: the winner earns an automatic ticket to the IPL final in Ahmedabad on May 31. The loser, however, will still have a secondary path to the final through the second qualifier in Mullanpur on May 27.
Whether the Titans can maintain their disciplined approach under the pressure of the playoffs remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: their “quiet” model of leadership has already set a gold standard for how a cricket franchise can achieve long-term success without the constant glare of celebrity ownership.
