Gujarat and Rajasthan locked horns in the final match of the Indian T20 League 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After winning the toss, the 2008-winners elected to bat first. They had a decent start as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler stitched a partnership of 31 runs in the first four overs. Jaiswal (22 off 16), who looked like a cat on a hot tin roof, was caught at deep square leg by Sai Kishore off Yash Dayal.
Skipper Sanju Samson came and scored 14 off 11 balls before the was caught at short third man by Sai Kishore off Hardik Pandya. This wicket triggered a collapse as they went from 60/1 to 98/6 in 7.3 overs. Buttler (39), who has been the highest run-getter of the tournament, became the second victim of Pandya. Another big blow for the team was the fall of Shimron Hetmyer (11), who has been the best finisher for the team in this edition. However, he was caught and bowled by Pandya.
Riyan Parag (15) and Trent Boult (11) took the team to 130/9. For Gujarat, Pandya took three wickets while Kishore took two, and Mohammed Shami and Dayal took one each. In reply, the Hardik Pandya-led side had a poor start as Wriddhiman Saha (5) was clean bowled by a brilliant inswing delivery from Prasidh Krishna in the second over. Three overs later, Boult struck as Matthew Wade (8) was caught at short midwicket by Parag. At 23/2, the likes of skipper Pandya and Shubman Gill stitched a partnership of 63 runs.
The Gujarat skipper scored 34 off 30 balls including three fours and a six before he was caught at slips by Jaiswal off Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal did a Shane Warne as the ball turned by seven degrees. Even Pandya had no answer to this and went back to the dugout. David Miller (32 off 19) came and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 47 runs with Gill (45 off 43). The team went on to win the game by seven wickets. Thus, they created history in their debut season in the cash-rich league by winning the title.
This is how Twitter reacted
Talent koot koot ke bhara hai is bande mein. Hardik Pandya take a bow! ????????????
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 29, 2022
Love the spirit with which @rajasthanroyals are defending this little score
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 29, 2022
Hardik falls to one pitching on middle-and-leg and spinning away ?. Gotta admit, Warnie would have been proud of that!
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 29, 2022
Well done @gujarat_titans ? . Fabulous play throughout. @hardikpandya7 you're an absolute champion ????@rajasthanroyals you'll can be proud of yourselves . Great tournament ??
To every player , support staff, groundsmen, broadcasters, administrators and to all fans 12
— DK (@DineshKarthik) May 29, 2022
“Powerful people make places Powerful” #Sunnews | #GujaratTitans | #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/eREw3AXrMj
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) May 29, 2022
A fairy-tale performance this by @gujarat_titans in their debut season.The best news for Indian cricket though is to get @hardikpandya7 back in his sublime best. In this @IPL his team has been simply phenomenal.Congrats!It has been a super show!The Champions ?#GTvRR #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/AblNTs12kl
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) May 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1530976445119406082?s=20&t=FlHdEnTEy4U4BI4x8SZ2oQ
Rajasthan may have lost, but Gujarat- a team that reminds you so much of Warne’s team from 2008- winning the IPL, is no less a tribute to the great man.
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) May 29, 2022
Congratulations @gujarat_titans ??
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.#IPLFinals? #IPL2022— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) May 29, 2022
Dream IPL debut for #GujaratTitans. Fantastic journey right through the tournament, every clinching some matches from impossible situations and Culminating in an emphatic victory in the final…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 29, 2022
Congratulations @gujarat_titans , champions on debut. Well done Nehra Ji #HardikPandya
— RAMESH POWAR (@imrameshpowar) May 29, 2022
What a performance by @gujarat_titans throughout the tournament. Very well deserved champions and great leadership by @hardikpandya7 ??????. #IPL2022 #GTvRR #IPLFinal
— rishi dhawan (@rishid100) May 29, 2022
