RR vs GT: A massive 37-run win over the Rajasthan Royals sees the Gujarat Titans take the numero uno spot in the IPL 2022 points table. With the victory on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium, Hardik Pandya’s team now has 8 points – 4 wins out of 5 matches – and also have the second-best net run rate of all teams.
After being asked to bat first by RR skipper Sanju Samson, the Titans lost their top three for 53 runs. Then it was a marathon partnership between captain Hardik Pandya and youngster Abhinav Manohar that kept the hopes of a big total alive.
Pandya and Manohar’s stand yielded 86 runs from 55 balls. Both the batters were cautious initially to not lost any more wicket in that phase before both teed off as they settled in. Manohar got out after scoring 43 off 28 balls.
Enter David Miller and the game started to tilt towards the Titans as Miller and Pandya launched a stunning assault on the RR bowling attack that was lacking the injured Trent Boult.
Miller took no time in getting off the blocks and whacked 31 runs off 14 balls. Pandya continued his fine form and unleashed his attacking strokes to end up with 87* off 52 balls, his innings consisting of 8 cleanly-struck fours and 4 fiercely hit sixes, taking GT to 192.
Jos Buttler threatened to make an easy task of this mammoth target as he hammered everyone in his way in the powerplay, racing to 54 off 23 balls but was castled by Lockie Ferguson on the last ball of the powerplay, in which they had also lost opener Devdutt Padikkal and R Ashwin who was promoted up in the order.
From there on it was the Titans who controlled the game as RR kept losing wickets. RR captain Samson got run out to a stunning throw from Hardik Pandya, soon followed by Rassie van der Dussen.
Shimron Hetmyer, who has been in superb form this season, hit a few shots (29 off 17) but the required rate proved too much for him to strike everything with proper timing. RR, in the end, fell short by 37 runs of the Titans’ score.
Twitter lauded this all-round show by Gujarat Titans as Hardik Pandya’s side rise to the top of the points table.
Here are some of the best reactions of fans to Gujarat’s terrific performance:
— Desi Bhayo (@desi_bhayo88) April 14, 2022
Hardik Pandya vs his ex-captain. #RRvGT pic.twitter.com/1X5367eauJ
— Rajabets India??? (@smileandraja) April 14, 2022
This is one of the best knock of Hardik Pandya. used to be a finisher but promoting himself up the order this season and scoring runs is what we all wanted. He is our main man in the upcoming T20 world cup. Hope he continues his form like this. good signs for team India. pic.twitter.com/ykUCPvtHzD
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) April 14, 2022
Talent never goes unnoticed. ? #RRvGT | #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/8G3Jc8C1yz
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 14, 2022
75* off 47 @ SR 159 after walking in at 15/2 ?#RRvGT | #AavaDe | #TATAIPL | #PapaPandya pic.twitter.com/19bLETZJWs
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 14, 2022
Rajasthan Royal’s chase summed up. #RRvsGT #2022TATA pic.twitter.com/QlXbM3Coau
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) April 14, 2022
? #AavaDe pic.twitter.com/TnWgXDOjce
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 14, 2022
We still have gentleman in the game of cricket !!! @josbuttler ?? other players should learn from him specially team mates !!! #IPL2022 #RRvGT
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 14, 2022
Jos Buttler tuck his orange cap once Hardik Pandya became the top run-getter in #IPL2022 . He doesn’t need to do this. He is such a nice guy. pic.twitter.com/oFfY3x7SQk
— Vibinraj (@vibin1021) April 14, 2022