IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya Made A Hilarious Comment After Winning Game Against KKR

Hardik Pandya Made A Hilarious Comment After Winning Game Against KKR: The Gujarat Titans consolidated their position as the IPL 2022 table-toppers with a victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday at the DY Patil Stadium. This victory – sixth in seven matches – has got the Titans closer to sealing a playoff berth.

Captain Hardik Pandya, who was returning from an injury-forced rest, was the top scorer for his side. Coming in at number 3, after the early wicket of in-form Shubman Gill, Pandya finished with 67 runs from 49 balls setting up a platform for a big finish for others. However, Andre Russell’s incredible 20th over – that saw 4 wickets fall – meant GT were restricted to 156, a par total.

In the chase KKR found themselves struggling at 79/5 before the arrival of Russell, who straightway took on the pacers and while he lost partners at the other end, the West Indian, with some help from Umesh Yadav, kept the chase in balance.

Great team effort Happy to be contributing to the win tonight

Thank you for your love and support, 100 wickets in the @IPL but the hard work doesn’t stop #KKRvGT #SeasonOfFirsts #AavaDe pic.twitter.com/YVdq4Pga5S

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) April 23, 2022

With 18 runs needed off the last over, the match was then going to be decided with a West Indian battle – Alzarri Joseph vs Russell. The batter slogged a six on the first ball but was bounced out on the second with Ferguson taking a superb catch at fine leg. Joseph had no problems closing out the game against Umesh and Southee.

This is now the fourth of their six victories that the Titans have won in the last over of the match. Skipper Hardik Pandya joked that with such regular tense and last-over finishes to their matches, he would lose a lot hair by the tournament ends that got the commentator also chuckling.

“By the time we finish this tournament, I might lose all my hair (chuckles). It’s always important to close the games which we were very good at and the boys have stepped up and showed their character and backed their skills,” the Gujarat skipper pleased with his side’s performances said.

Pandya felt his side fell about a dozen runs short but had confidence in his bowling attack to defend a par total.

“We were 10-12 short and I think they bowled pretty well as well, but the kind of bowling we have I always backed my bowlers to stop those 12 runs and eventually we have done that,” he added.

Shubman Gill has started off the season with two big knocks, however, he’s managed only 27 runs in the last four innings. His opening partner, Saha, has 36 runs in 2 matches at a strike rate of 83. Pandya, though, is not concerned about it, showing his full backing to the openers.

To the Titans who made our day… here’s to more match-winning performances #SeasonOfFirsts #KKRvGT #AavaDe pic.twitter.com/RRPjQzKB8U

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 23, 2022

“We are backing them (opening combination) as a team and I know what kind of players they are and in the middle we are managing pretty alright and once they start clicking it will be a wonderful treat to watch,” he said.

There seems to be a groin injury concern with the GT skipper. He was in pain when he stretched himself to complete a quick single and was also seen running gingerly while fielding.

“Hope everything (injury) is fine with me as well, I have three days before the next game and focus on the things I can control,” Hardik Pandya concluded.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Harsha Bhogle’s Tweets About Virat Kohli’s Form Has Gone Viral

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