IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: The game is going to be a battle, says GT assistant coach Dahiya

Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya said Qualifier 1 will see a battle between two equal teams and dismissed the notion that Royal Challengers Bengaluru will have an advantage, having played a league-stage contest at the HPCA Stadium here.

“There are many players across both teams who have played at this venue before and they will be aware of the conditions here. Both teams play as a unit, that is what stands out. The game is going to be a battle. Since there is a lot at stake, there is going to be pressure on both,” Dahiya said.

The coach added that the two sides have found themselves at the top end of the IPL 2026 table due to the consistency in their bowling. “You see teams putting runs on the board. But in the end, you need a solid bowling unit. You hardly see any changes in both the teams, and that is due to the bowlers’ self-belief and the faith put in by the captain and the management,” he said.

GT has picked the most PowerPlay wickets in the competition this year (38), thanks to some accurate bowling from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. Dahiya said the two have formed a solid partnership on and off the pitch.

“They understand the game very well and what they need to do for the partner at the other end. They are different characters who come from different international environments and a lot of credit needs to be given to Ashish Nehra, the way he handles both of them,” the coach opined.