Follow UsGujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings in the summit clash of the Indian Premier League on Sunday, May 28, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the marquee fixture, Titans' Director of Cricket, Vikram Solanki, addressed the pre-match press conference and stated that his side is confident of defending their title against the four-time champions.
"You are definitely better for the experience of having played the final here and been successful in the big games. CSK has been a fabulous team for a good number of years, and we respect that. But we try and prepare ourselves to be competitive against everybody and are confident in our preparations," Solanki said.
"What transpires on the day transpires on the day, but we need to be conscious of our preparation and be present when the opportunity presents itself. It is yet another opportunity for our team to show our skills, and we are very much looking forward to it," he added.
One of the reasons for Gujarat's incredible consistency in the tournament, where they won 10 out of the 14 league matches, have been mainly due to the performance of the bowling unit, and Solanki credited them for picking up consistent wickets to stem the flow of runs.
"If you look at the tournament in its entirety, the Impact Player rule has had a bearing on the number of batters that are playing. So wicket-taking becomes all the more important."
"We have always been minded of being an attack that is able to take wickets under different conditions, through different phases. All three have been quite brilliant for us, and they have worked extremely hard and deserve all the success coming their way," he added.
In the first Qualifier of the competition, the Titans suffered a 15-run defeat against the Super Kings in Chepauk. However, the 47-year-old believes the conditions were very different, and both sides ought to start from scratch in the final.
"You can certainly take lessons about how CSK go about things. What you must also appreciate is, when we played in Chennai, the conditions were different to what we are going to face here. Whilst you register and acknowledge what happened in Chennai, you must look ahead."
Solanki also heaped praises on Shubman Gill for his sublime performance in the last couple of matches and believes he has all the attributes to be a world-class player in the coming years.
"Shubman has played a significant role with the lion's share of overs, and we are pleased with his contributions. However, it's important to remember that, at any given time, only two players can be at the crease."
"If the two openers occupy the entirety of the 20 overs, we are absolutely fine with that. When it comes to batting, Shubman Gill is a brilliant technician. For a young man, he will certainly be an example of how to bat. He has all of the qualities of a world-class player, and he is just showing that."
"What sets Shubman apart is not just his natural talent but also the tremendous effort he puts into his game. It is not just about practising in the nets; he goes beyond that."
"Shubman is incredibly perceptive about the opposition he faces and the opportunities available to gain an advantage. He prepares himself to overcome the challenges he might encounter in any given situation," he concluded.