Jos Buttler, captain of the Gujarat Titans, said that the team bus caught fire following the IPL 2026 final [1].
The incident highlights a significant safety lapse for one of the world's most high-profile sporting events, where player security is paramount.
The fire occurred on the road leaving the match venue in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, immediately after the final on May 27, 2026 [1]. According to Buttler, the vehicle began to fill with smoke, forcing a rapid evacuation of the players and support staff [1, 2].
"Our bus was going up in smoke," Buttler said [1].
Reports indicate that the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the electrical system of the bus [1, 2]. The sudden nature of the blaze created a high-stress environment for the team, who had just suffered a loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the championship match.
"It was a scary moment – the bus caught fire and we had to get out quickly," Buttler said [2].
Despite the severity of the smoke and flames, there were zero injuries reported among the passengers [1]. The team was able to exit the vehicle safely before the fire escalated further.
The Gujarat Titans were traveling from the venue in Ahmedabad when the electrical failure occurred [1]. No further details regarding the bus provider or the extent of the vehicle damage have been released.
“"Our bus was going up in smoke."”
This incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous vehicle safety inspections for athlete transport in major leagues. While no injuries occurred, a fire caused by an electrical short-circuit in a primary team vehicle suggests a failure in maintenance protocols that could have resulted in casualties given the volume of passengers on a team bus.
