Gujarat Titans Team Bus Catches Fire After IPL 2026 Final; Players Evacuated Safely

Hours after Gujarat Titans suffered defeat in the IPL 2026 final, the team faced another scare when their bus reportedly caught fire due to a short circuit while returning to the hotel in Ahmedabad. All players and support staff were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.

What began as a disappointing night on the field for Gujarat Titans turned into a frightening experience off it as the team’s bus reportedly caught fire while returning from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad after the IPL 2026 final.

According to reports, the incident occurred late on Sunday night when the Gujarat Titans contingent was travelling back to its hotel following the summit clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Preliminary information suggests that the fire broke out due to an electrical fault and short circuit inside the bus.

As smoke started filling parts of the vehicle, the driver immediately stopped the bus on the roadside. Team officials and support staff quickly initiated evacuation procedures, ensuring that all players and support personnel were moved out safely.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The incident created panic for a brief period, with players and staff forced to wait by the roadside until alternative transport arrangements could be made. Reports stated that another bus was arranged and the entire contingent was later transported safely to the hotel.

The scare came shortly after Gujarat Titans’ defeat in the IPL 2026 final. Batting first, the Shubman Gill-led side managed only 155 runs, a target that RCB chased successfully to lift the trophy. The victory marked RCB’s second consecutive IPL title, capping off a memorable campaign for the Bengaluru franchise.

For Gujarat Titans, however, the final days of the tournament proved particularly challenging. The team had already endured a hectic travel schedule before the title clash. Their preparations were affected by weather-related disruptions, with their flight to Ahmedabad reportedly delayed by several hours because of heavy rain, forcing the squad to arrive late ahead of the final.

Following the defeat, questions were raised about whether fatigue had played a role in Gujarat’s performance. However, Gujarat Titans’ cricket director Vikram Solanki dismissed the suggestion.

“RCB played very well and we don’t want to diminish the credit for their victory. We will not justify our defeat by saying that we played more matches in less time and the players were tired,” Solanki said.

He added that while Gujarat’s total was below par, the team would review its performance and identify areas for improvement.

“We will definitely assess where we went wrong, but sometimes we have to accept that the other team plays better than us,” he said.

While the final result was disappointing for Gujarat Titans, the biggest relief for the franchise came after the bus incident, as every player and staff member emerged unharmed from what could have been a far more serious situation.