Sanjay Manjrekar’s praise for GT owners comes with direct swipe at Ambanis & MI – Sanjay Manjrekar Praises GT Management, Takes Veiled Dig at Mumbai Indians
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A New Blueprint for IPL Success
The landscape of the Indian Premier League is often defined by star power, both on and off the field. While franchises often grab headlines for their big-name player acquisitions, the inner workings of team management remain a subject of intense scrutiny among experts. Recently, former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar shed light on what he believes is the winning formula for the Gujarat Titans (GT), contrasting their operational philosophy with the more public-facing approach of franchises like the Mumbai Indians.
The Silent Success of Gujarat Titans
Since their inception in 2022, the Gujarat Titans have been nothing short of a revelation. Achieving playoff spots in four out of five seasons, including a maiden title win in their inaugural year, the franchise has defied expectations. Even with recent ownership changes—moving from CVC Capital to the Torrent Group—the team’s on-field excellence has remained untarnished. In the 2026 season, after a shaky start, the Titans demonstrated remarkable resilience, finishing second on the points table after a formidable second-half surge.
Manjrekar’s Analysis on Ownership Dynamics
In a recent discussion with Sportstar, Manjrekar pointed out that the lack of owner interference is a primary driver behind the team’s stability. He specifically praised the fact that the GT owners choose to operate in the background, allowing professional cricket personnel to lead the way. ‘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,’ Manjrekar noted. He further highlighted the strategic appointment of Vikram Solanki, a former England cricketer with a corporate background, to manage operations, alongside the consistent coaching leadership provided by Ashish Nehra.
A Veiled Swipe at the Ambanis
Manjrekar’s emphasis on owners ‘sitting on the sofas’ is widely interpreted as a direct critique of the Mumbai Indians’ management style. The mother-son duo of Nita and Akash Ambani has become a staple of the IPL broadcast, frequently shown sitting on specialized sofas placed near the boundary ropes. This level of proximity to the field has previously drawn attention from the BCCI, which has established regulations regarding owner-player interactions during matches. By highlighting the Titans’ ‘non-intrusive’ management, Manjrekar underscored a growing sentiment that perhaps the most successful franchises are those where the owners remain largely unseen.
Consistent Performers and the Road Ahead
The success of the Gujarat Titans in 2026 has been built on a foundation of reliability. The opening partnership between skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan has been instrumental, consistently anchoring the innings. Supplemented by the experience of Jos Buttler at number three, the top order has provided the necessary stability. Furthermore, the team’s pace battery, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder, has proven lethal, while Rashid Khan continues to be a pivotal figure in the bowling attack.
As the tournament reaches its climax, the Gujarat Titans are set to face the table-toppers, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in the Qualifier 1 match in Dharamsala. This clash will determine which team earns a direct ticket to the IPL final in Ahmedabad. Regardless of the outcome, the Gujarat Titans have already cemented their reputation as a franchise that prioritizes process and professional management over the glitz and glamour often associated with the league.
Conclusion
The discourse surrounding the Gujarat Titans serves as an interesting case study in sports management. In a league defined by high pressure and constant visibility, the Titans have chosen a path of quiet competence. Whether or not other franchises adopt a similar model remains to be seen, but for now, the ‘GT way’ of letting cricket experts drive the bus while ownership remains in the shadows appears to be the gold standard for long-term consistency in the IPL.
