Fans Hail Hardik Pandya As Gujarat Titans Win IPL 2022 In Their Maiden Season
Hardik Pandya led from the front as Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to win the Indian Premier League title
Hardik Pandya led from the front as Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to become the Indian Premier League title in their maiden season. This is only the second stance of a team winning the title in its first season, after Rajasthan won it in the inaugural edition of the league.
It was not an easy ride for the Titans after they restricted the opponents to 130. A couple of early wickets in, Matthew Wade and Wriddhiman Saha pushed them into a spot of bother. Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, however, held on and steadied the innings before David Miller’s explosive cameo propelled them across the target.
AAPDE GT GAYA!
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 29, 2022
WE ARE THE #IPL Champions 2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣!#SeasonOfFirsts | #AavaDe | #GTvRR | #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/wy0ItSJ1Y3
It was a 63-run stand between Pandya and Gill that set up the foundation. Pandya scored 34 off 30 deliveries before being dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal. If Pandya’s dismissal opened a glimmer of hope for Rajasthan Royals to crawl back into the game, it didn’t take too long for Miller to crush it with his quickfire 32.
Let's ꜱᴀᴠᴇ this forever, #TitansFAM! 💙pic.twitter.com/66X3QqQXH7
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 29, 2022
Gill was the binding force of the chase, scoring a well-measured 45, with the help of three fours and a six. He hit the winning boundary on the first ball of the penultimate over—a glorious pull over the square leg.
The winning roar from Shubman Gill. pic.twitter.com/CaJro2GExL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 29, 2022
Pandya (3-17), meanwhile, also starred with the ball, taking three crucial wickets to restrict the opponents to a below-par total. He got rid of three of the most destructive batters in the opposition camp, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Shimron Hetmyer.
In 15 IPL Finals, it is only second time that a captain (Hardik Pandya) has dismissed the opponent captain (Sanju Samson). First such instance was RCB captain Anil Kumble dismissing DC captain Adam Gilchrist in the very first of the match in 2009 Final in Johannesburg. #IPL2022
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) May 29, 2022
Pandya finished the season as the fourth-highest run-getter in the IPL 2022, having amassed 487 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 131. He also claimed 8 wickets at an economy of just over 7.
487 runs and 8 wickets – The MVP of Gujarat and it's their captain Hardik Pandya. pic.twitter.com/NVaRZ6Il4I
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 29, 2022
After Rohit Sharma and Anil Kumble, he is the third captain to win the Player of the Match award in the IPL final.
By the way, Hardik Pandya is gold for any team once he’s fit to bowl.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 29, 2022
Here’s how fans reacted:
Feels like a real coming of age tournament for Hardik Pandya. Exciting to see how he pushes on from here.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) 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
Hardik Pandya is still not appreciated enough as a captain, guy is one of the main reasons behind GT’s success. One who leads from the front, takes responsibility, the energy and alpha attitude he brings in but no one talks about him bc he is Hardik Pandya and not Sanju Samson
— Darshit (@18schrutei) May 29, 2022
✅ Top run-scorer for the team
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 29, 2022
✅ Got wickets of Buttler, Samson, and Hetmyer in the final
✅ Captained the team excellently
A huge round of applause for Hardik Pandya in #IPL2022 👏 pic.twitter.com/AXPefq1NHY
This could turn out to be a superb day for Indian cricket, one of the most under appreciated players over the last few years could finally get the credit he deserves – Hardik Pandya, a true rockstar cricketer!
— Kieran (@BerbaSpinCric) May 29, 2022