
Powered by inspired bowling performances by captain Hardik Pandya (3 for 17), Rashid Khan (1 for 18) and Yash Dayal (1 for 18 in 3 overs) Gujarat Titans, joining the IPL for the first time, broke the backbone of Rajasthan Royals restricting them to just 130/9 in 20 overs and won the IPL-2022 Final by 7 wickets, tonight, the 29th May 2022. Playing at 'home' for the first time the Titans have indeed made the Gujarat fans ecstatic, but the match played in a jam-packed 1.2 lakh capacity crowd stadium in Ahmedabad, perhaps the biggest crowd in IPL history, was not a befitting climax of the absorbing tournament as it proved to be a low-scoring and languidly one-sided one. However, the No.1 team at the league stage, GT have maintained their supremacy beyond any shred of doubt. An astounding performance by them in all the departments of the game. A deserving winner indeed, and mind you, I billed them as hot favorites to lift the Trophy! After early jolts Gill and Pandya steadied the chase, then then Gill and Miller ensured GT become the Champions.
Having the 800+run Orange Cap Jos Buttler firing all the time a rollicking Royals looked very confident and spirited, deciding to bat first after winning the toss. Unfortunately, after a brief blitzkrieg by Jaiswal (22 in 16) the fire in them flickered out, in painstakingly suffocated manner. Buttler did try hard to stick on, but amid the carnage perished to Pandya for 39 runs in 35 balls. No other batsmen could take the game back by giving the most required charge as captain Samson too fell cheaply. RR tried very hard on the field, but it was too low a target to defend and dropped catches didn't help their cause either.
 |
|
Captaining for the first time in his career and that too for a brand new team, Hardik Pandya has really scored a few strong points in leadership and in individual performances. He has thus become a hot contender for a future India captain, provided, of course, he maintains his all-round consistency plus fitness and cements his place in Team India in all three formats. Now, it's back to official international cricket: first, India Vs South Africa in 5 T20Is, and second, India go to England to complete the Test Series they lead 2-1after COVID confusion kept the Series hanging.
Comments
Post a Comment
Hi! Welcome! Please comment what you feel! 😊