Gujarat Titans’ decision to bench Washington Sundar despite his match-winning performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad raised quite a few eyebrows. However, batting coach Parthiv Patel clarified that it was a tactical call based on the playing conditions and game situation in Ahmedabad.

In their clash against the Rajasthan Royals on April 9, Sundar was left out of the starting XI, a move that sparked criticism from fans given his stellar 49-run knock at No.4 in the previous outing. Addressing the media after GT’s dominant 58-run win over RR, Parthiv explained that the team’s decisions are never rigid but are instead shaped by real-time match dynamics.

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“He wasn’t part of our playing XI for this game, and that was based purely on the conditions,” Parthiv Patel said. “Just like in the last match, where we lost early wickets and he came in to stabilize the innings, here we felt the pitch demanded an extra seamer for the second innings. If we had lost a couple of wickets early again, things might have been different. But we believed the batters in the XI were equipped for the job.”

The former India wicketkeeper emphasized that Gujarat Titans are not inclined toward unnecessary experiments. Instead, the coaching staff is committed to evaluating each match on its own merit.

“This is not the tournament for experiments. While the IPL is long, we still prefer to approach every game with a clear, situation-specific plan. We’re not making changes just for the sake of it,” Parthiv Patel added.

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With that win, GT regained momentum, and the team will now shift focus to their upcoming fixture against Lucknow Super Giants on April 12. As the season unfolds, the Titans appear intent on maintaining a flexible yet focused strategy, built on adaptability and smart decision-making.