New Delhi: An all-around clinical display from Indian Premier League (IPL) debutants Gujarat Titans (GT) led by Hardik Pandya defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the summit clash to clinch the prestigious trophy in their first go itself in the largest stadium of the world, Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Winning a title in his first-ever IPL season as captain has an emotional significance for ‘captain’ Pandya who has finally managed to make a comeback in international cricket on the back of his spectacular outing in IPL 2022, both as a batter and bowler. In the IPL final tonight, he emerged as a star performer for his team by picking 3 wickets for 17 runs and then scored a 30-ball 34. While IPL 2022 was GT’s first season in the cash-rich tournament, RR, the winners of inaugural season back in 2008, played its second IPL final on Sunday.
Defending just a 131-run target, Boult, Chahal and Krishna bowled their hearts out for Rajasthan but they needed wickets which was not the case. They were good in the fielding while stopping fours but there were also some half chances that they failed to capitalize on. Chahal dropped Gill in the very first over which cost them dearly. Gujarat turned out to be a better side today and that’s why they went to script history in Ahmedabad.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and invited Gujarat Titans to bowl first. Clinical bowling spells from skipper Hardik Pandya (3/17) and Rashid Khan (1/18) helped Gujarat restrict Rajasthan to a paltry 130/9 in Ahmedabad. Apart from Hardik, Shami and Yash Dayal bagged one wicket apiece.
Rajasthan’s decision to bat first turned out to be a nightmare for them as they kept on losing wickets back-to-back and not even a single RR batsman could steady innings to keep the momentum alive and pull his team back into the match.
Lowest totals batting first in IPL finals
Mumbai vs Pune in IPL 2017 | 129/8 (Won)
RR vs GT in IPL 2022 | 130/9 (Lost)
Deccan vs Bangalore in IPL 2009 | 143/6 (Won)
Mumbai vs Chennai in IPL 2013 | 148/9 (Won)
Mumbai vs Chennai in IPL 2019 | 149/8 (Won)
Openers Yash Dayal and Jos Buttler were off to a good start but Jaiswal mistimed a short-pitched delivery to give away his wicket in the 4th over, leaving the team’s total at 31/1.
R skipper Sanju Samson, the next man in, joined Buttler on the crease. Samson looked in good shape and was playing cautiously against GT bowlers to keep the scoreboard ticking. After the end of seven overs, Rajasthan had managed to cross the 50-run mark.
Hardik Pandya unleashed the beast mode as he bowled a beauty to dismiss Samson for 14 runs in the 9th over. His departure brought Padikkal who continued his poor run in IPL 2022 and soon returned back to the pavilion after being caught by Shami off Rashid’s delivery.
In the very next over, Rajasthan lost their most precious wicket in form of Jos Buttler who lost his wicket to Pandya, leaving the Royals reeling at 79/4 in 13 overs.
Rajasthan Royals tail-enders – the likes of Ashwin, Hetmyer, Boult and Parag – tried their best to hit some big strokes to push their team to a decent total but Gujarat bowlers kept things tight for them till the very last over to keep momentum in their favor ahead of the chase. After end of 20 overs, GT had restricted RR to a paltry 130/9 in Ahmedabad.
Squads
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal
