On Sunday night, in front of more than 1 lakh sized packed crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Titans, in their debut IPL season, won their maiden title – defeating the Rajasthan Royals, who were in their second final only, who won their maiden IPL title, in their debut season way back in 2008.
Just like his team, Hardik Pandya has surprised everyone this season, taking up the responsibility of batting at number 3 and 4, returning stronger and fitter as a bowler, and the captaincy. Oh.
He led from the front tonight with the ball first and then with the bat, comfortably the easiest choice for the Player of the Match award.
ગરવી ગુજરાત!
ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴇᴀᴍ | ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴀᴅɪᴜᴍ | ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴀᴛᴇpic.twitter.com/D2dDb5fYlB
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 29, 2022
RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bat first. They lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (22 runs off 16 balls) but the game hung in balance at the 8-over mark at the score of 59/1 with both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson ready to tee off having given themselves time to get their eye in on a bouncy surface.
Hardik Pandya’s introduction of himself changed the tide of the game as first he bounced out Samson, and then got the big fish, Buttler, the Orange Cap winner, with a classical back of length delivery which he nicked to Saha. Pandya continued his spell and also got rid of RR’s finisher Shimron Hetmyer, who lobbed a catch back to the bowler. Pandya finished his 4-over spell with brilliant figures of 3/17.
Sai Kishore picked two late wickets, after one each had been snapped up by Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal and Mohammed Shami restricting RR to 130.
Gujarat’s chase, though, didn’t properly get off the blocks, losing Saha and Matthew Wade for a total of 23. Pandya joined hands with Shubman Gill and without taking any unnecessary or miscalculated risk forged a partnership of 63 runs off 53 balls before Pandya(34 off 30) succumbed to Chahal’s spin.
David Miller then came out all guns blazing and killed off the chase quickly with his 19-ball 32. On the first ball of the 19th over, Gill then launched Obed McCoy over deep square leg, had his arms up in the air, chest bludgeoned as the Titans became the champions of IPL 2022.
This is after not many had given them a chance to even get into the top four, let alone win the whole damn thing, after the mega-auction. Under Hardik Pandya, coach Ashish Nehra, under the desire to “play with love” as the skipper put it, they have done it.
Twitter erupted with joy, celebrations, appreciation for Gujarat Titans:
People@judged @hardikpandya7 for years. I always liked Hardik coz he is one of the smartest & natural cricketers I have seen for a long time. Short format cricket is about quick thinking & confidence which he has in plenty ! Take a bow @gujarat_titans
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) May 29, 2022
Congratulations @gujarat_titans for a phenomenal debut season
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) May 29, 2022
Mocked for not having a strong team on paper at the begining of IPL
Surprised everyone with their performance and won the IPL.
Gujarat Titans have taught all of us an important lesson of life. #GTvsRR #TATAIPL 2022 pic.twitter.com/2sm2VLmARC
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 29, 2022
#ShubmanGill finishes off in great style to take the debutante team #GujaratTitans to a magnificent win. The right bat must have played a role
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) May 29, 2022
The kind of stuff dreams are made of.
Hardik Pandya led from the front, wonderful backroom staff led by Ashish Nehra kept the atmosphere relaxed and the best team in the tournament wins the #IPLFinal with more than a lakh people watching it in the stadium.Superb @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/0YTbjYCzDa— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) May 29, 2022
What a dream debut season for Gujarat Titans. @hardikpandya7 has been absolutely brilliant as a leader and player. This has been a fantastic IPL and great to see a new champion. Jos Buttler was in a league of his own and Rajasthan Royals can be proud of their season. #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/dnTKOoAO4K
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 29, 2022
HARDIK the BOWLER is back .. what a spell captain
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 29, 2022
#SeasonOfFirsts mein trophy jeetna… you’ve made the Class of 2008 proud.
Congratulations, @gujarat_titans!
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 29, 2022
Well done @gujarat_titans
To every player , support staff, groundsmen, broadcasters, administrators and to all fans 12
— DK (@DineshKarthik) May 29, 2022
Congrats to Hardik Pandya and his @gujarat_titans one of two franchises to win tHe IPL in their first season. Wonderful bowling unit and so many different guys stepping up all season.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 29, 2022
A very hearty congratulations to @gujarat_titans from the #SuperGiants family! Our clashes with you were truly legendary and the trophy has gone to deserving hands. See you next season!#AbApniBaariHai
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 29, 2022
Every match they played they got a new hero. Stuff of dreams for a franchise playing their first season. Many congratulations @gujarat_titans! #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/9LtuqYqpAM
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 29, 2022
Gary Kirsten & Ashish Nehra, both sacked by RCB in last few years & now won trophy for Gujarat Titans together.
This arrogant nature of RCB is reason that RCB won’t win trophy for next 10 years at least.#IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/CABVOZwIla
— Amit Kumar (@AMIT_GUJJU) May 29, 2022
What a brilliant first season for @gujarat_titans Big big congratulations to the captain @hardikpandya7 and the team. #IPL2022
— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) May 29, 2022
Gujarat Titans be like pic.twitter.com/gmzWZEKH94
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 29, 2022
Gujarat Titans. Ufff…what a rocket season. Hardik Pandya producing a stellar effort in the grand finale. Found different match winners in different games…what a season.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 29, 2022
Gujarat Titans as a franchise itself was formed just few days before the auction due to some paper work challenges. They had a First time captain and not many gave them a good chance. They have dominated the tournament from start to finish. Congratulations to them. #IPLFinal
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) May 29, 2022
5 wins in 5 #IPL finals for @hardikpandya7 and this victory must be the sweetest of them all! Top performance by @gujarat_titans this season, having steamrolled opponents with excellent chases and tonight they outplayed #RR in all departments. Season to cherish for #GT
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) May 29, 2022
Congratulations Gujarat Titans on lifting #IPL2022 title. The team richly deserved this superb victory @gujarat_titans @hardikpandya7 #IPLfinal #GTvsRR
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) May 29, 2022
This is not the story of underdogs. This is the story of the underrated ones..#GujaratTitans #IPL2022
— Jatin Khandelwal (@jr_khandelwal) May 29, 2022
Also Read: Hardik Pandya Bowled A Sensational Spell In IPL 2022 Final And Fans Can’t Keep Calm
