Gujarat Titans (GT) proved their doubters wrong with a season to remember as they went on to lift their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their debut campaign. The Hardik Pandya-led side was a force to reckon with throughout the tournament and notched up wins consistently to lift the elusive trophy after beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final on Sunday (May 29). The Titans have garnered praise from many for their stunning season which saw a number of individuals stand up and deliver when required.

They were not one of the favourites at the start of the tournament but Gujarat Titans defied the odds and won some matches from improbable situations after impeccable contributions from their batters and bowlers. They were the first team to qualify for the playoffs and the first to reach the final after beating RR in the 1st Qualifier.

While the likes of captain Hardik Pandya, David Miller and Shubman Gill starred with the bat during the season, Rahul Tewatia played some sensational cameos down the order and won a few important matches as a finisher for his team. In the bowling department, Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan were consistent throughout while the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, R Sai Kishore and Alzarri Joseph played their part.

Gujarat Titans were not among the favourites even for a spot in the playoffs after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. But their effort as a team was enough to outclass the favourites and emerge on top to clinch the prestigious trophy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/hardik-pandya-to-david-miller-5-heroes-of-gujarat-titans-memorable-maiden-ipl-triumph-483565">Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph</a>

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Hardik Pandya &amp; Co. and said they proved the trophy can't be won at the auction table. Manjrekar pointed out how GT had taken a gamble with players like Miller and Pandya himself but it all paid off for them.

"Not many people thought they've done well with the selection of players. The player, the captain and they got their formula right and they go to win it," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.

"I think the lesson from this IPL is that you don't win an IPL title at the auction. Mumbai Indians for a while proved that to be the right way to go, but Gujarat Titans, just the players they gambled on and how big they have paid back with the gamble, that's been the story of Gujarat Titans.&nbsp;

“Hardik Pandya big gamble, David Miller massive gamble and what return from these guys,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mumbai-indians-fans-will-be-feeling-the-pain-ajay-jadeja-on-hardik-pandya-inspiring-gt-to-maiden-ipl-title-483780">Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title</a>

Pandya, who was released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the mega auction, was roped in as captain by the Titans and went on to lead the side tremendously well. Hardik showcased exemplary leadership qualities as he inspired the Titans to their first title in their very first season. He also saved his best for the last and came up with a Man of the Match performance in the final.

Hardik scored 34 runs and picked up three wickets with the ball to help his team beat RR by 7 wickets in the summit clash. The GT skipper became only the third captain to win a Man of the Match award in the final and mainatined his perfect unbeaten record in IPL finals. He has won all five IPL finals that he has been part of so far in his career.

Gujarat Titans (GT) proved their doubters wrong with a season to remember as they went on to lift their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their debut campaign.

Gujarat Titans (GT) proved their doubters wrong with a season to remember as they went on to lift their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their debut campaign. The Hardik Pandya-led side was a force to reckon with throughout the tournament and notched up wins consistently to lift the elusive trophy after beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final on Sunday (May 29). The Titans have garnered praise from many for their stunning season which saw a number of individuals stand up and deliver when required. They were not one of the favourites at the start of the tournament but Gujarat Titans defied the odds and won some matches from improbable situations after impeccable contributions from their batters and bowlers. They were the first team to qualify for the playoffs and the first to reach the final after beating RR in the 1st Qualifier. While the likes of captain Hardik Pandya, David Miller and Shubman Gill starred with the bat during the season, Rahul Tewatia played some sensational cameos down the order and won a few important matches as a finisher for his team. In the bowling department, Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan were consistent throughout while the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, R Sai Kishore and Alzarri Joseph played their part. Gujarat Titans were not among the favourites even for a spot in the playoffs after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. But their effort as a team was enough to outclass the favourites and emerge on top to clinch the prestigious trophy. Also Read: Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Hardik Pandya & Co. and said they proved the trophy can't be won at the auction table. Manjrekar pointed out how GT had taken a gamble with players like Miller and Pandya himself but it all paid off for them. "Not many people thought they've done well with the selection of players. The player, the captain and they got their formula right and they go to win it," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo. "I think the lesson from this IPL is that you don't win an IPL title at the auction. Mumbai Indians for a while proved that to be the right way to go, but Gujarat Titans, just the players they gambled on and how big they have paid back with the gamble, that's been the story of Gujarat Titans. “Hardik Pandya big gamble, David Miller massive gamble and what return from these guys,” he added. Also Read: Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title Pandya, who was released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the mega auction, was roped in as captain by the Titans and went on to lead the side tremendously well. Hardik showcased exemplary leadership qualities as he inspired the Titans to their first title in their very first season. He also saved his best for the last and came up with a Man of the Match performance in the final. Hardik scored 34 runs and picked up three wickets with the ball to help his team beat RR by 7 wickets in the summit clash. The GT skipper became only the third captain to win a Man of the Match award in the final and mainatined his perfect unbeaten record in IPL finals. He has won all five IPL finals that he has been part of so far in his career.

'You don't win an IPL title at the auction': Sanjay Mankrekar hails Gujarat Titans after memorable triumph

IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to a memorable triumph in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. After dominating the proceedings in the league stage of the tournament, GT defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) twice in the first Qualifier and the final to cap off a memorable season with the elusive trophy. Gujarat Titans became only the second team after RR to win the IPL in their debut season.

With ten teams entering the competition this year, Hardik was among the new captains to watch out for in the tournament. He was roped in by Gujarat Titans in the players'&nbsp;draft after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians (MI). The star all-rounder was also named captain of the team and led the side exceptionally well throughout the tournament.

Hardik was brilliant as a leader and also led from the front with the bat as he finished as the highest run-getter for his side with 487 runs from 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of over 131. He also picked up 8 wickets with the ball and delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final against the Royals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/hardik-pandya-to-david-miller-5-heroes-of-gujarat-titans-memorable-maiden-ipl-triumph-483565">Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph</a>

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja said Mumbai Indians fans would be feeling the pain after witnessing Hardik lift the IPL 2022 trophy following his exit from MI. Hardik had joined MI in 2015 and played only for the five-time champions before being released earlier this year. MI played a key role in Hardik's development as he also went on to become a regular for India across formats.

“He is one of those who gets inspired by the crowd. He likes the crowd, likes the people. If there is any dard (pain) it will be felt by the Mumbai fans. They will probably feeling that pain today, not the Gujarat fans,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz talking about Hardik's incredible feat with the Titans.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-in-sachin-tendulkars-best-xi-from-ipl-2022-hardik-pandya-named-captain-483728">No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain</a>

Jadeja credited Mumbai Indians for their role in Hardik's growth and said the franchise made the star all-rounder what he is today. Not just Hardik, but Mumbai Indians have also unearthed the likes of Krunal Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, who became strong pillars of the franchise ever since.

"He has picked the best from each one of them. You have got to keep learning, it is a process in life. Experience will always make you better. He has had a great run here but he is definitely going to learn as he grows. He has probably grasped most from (MI)," said Jadeja about Hardik's growth at MI.

He has come from Baroda, played local cricket there but Mumbai Indians made Hardik Pandya. The Pandya we see today is thanks to Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma the captain and everyone else over there. I think MI has a better setup to educate you," he added. 
&nbsp;

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to a memorable triumph in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. After dominating the proceedings in the league stage of the tournament, GT defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) twice in the first Qualifier and the final to cap off a memorable season with the elusive trophy.

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to a memorable triumph in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. After dominating the proceedings in the league stage of the tournament, GT defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) twice in the first Qualifier and the final to cap off a memorable season with the elusive trophy. Gujarat Titans became only the second team after RR to win the IPL in their debut season. With ten teams entering the competition this year, Hardik was among the new captains to watch out for in the tournament. He was roped in by Gujarat Titans in the players' draft after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians (MI). The star all-rounder was also named captain of the team and led the side exceptionally well throughout the tournament. Hardik was brilliant as a leader and also led from the front with the bat as he finished as the highest run-getter for his side with 487 runs from 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of over 131. He also picked up 8 wickets with the ball and delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final against the Royals. Also Read: Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja said Mumbai Indians fans would be feeling the pain after witnessing Hardik lift the IPL 2022 trophy following his exit from MI. Hardik had joined MI in 2015 and played only for the five-time champions before being released earlier this year. MI played a key role in Hardik's development as he also went on to become a regular for India across formats. “He is one of those who gets inspired by the crowd. He likes the crowd, likes the people. If there is any dard (pain) it will be felt by the Mumbai fans. They will probably feeling that pain today, not the Gujarat fans,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz talking about Hardik's incredible feat with the Titans. Also Read: No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain Jadeja credited Mumbai Indians for their role in Hardik's growth and said the franchise made the star all-rounder what he is today. Not just Hardik, but Mumbai Indians have also unearthed the likes of Krunal Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, who became strong pillars of the franchise ever since. "He has picked the best from each one of them. You have got to keep learning, it is a process in life. Experience will always make you better. He has had a great run here but he is definitely going to learn as he grows. He has probably grasped most from (MI)," said Jadeja about Hardik's growth at MI. He has come from Baroda, played local cricket there but Mumbai Indians made Hardik Pandya. The Pandya we see today is thanks to Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma the captain and everyone else over there. I think MI has a better setup to educate you," he added.

Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title

Ahead of IPL 2022, many had their eyes on Hardik Pandya as the 28-year-old had been out of action since Team India's 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE. He had missed quite a few bilateral series for India as the star all-rounder was preparing for his comeback in IPL 2022.&nbsp;

Dealing with a back issue, for the past few years, Hardik's comeback was keenly awaited as a great season would've ensured his return in Team India setup. Hardik not only rose to the occasion with the bat (487 runs overall) and bowled some tidy overs to also claim eight scalps, he led the new franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the just-concluded 15th season of the IPL.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-gt-mentor-gary-kirsten-heaps-praise-on-hardik-pandya-reveals-his-uniqueness-as-a-captain-483539">IPL 2022: GT mentor Gary Kirsten heaps praise on Hardik Pandya, reveals his uniqueness as a captain</a>

Thus, Hardik has also shown his leadership credentials and is being widely praised for his calm and composed style of captaincy.&nbsp;However, things weren't at its best for the all-rounder ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup, when KL Rahul and he got involved in a huge controversy for their sexist and racist remarks on a television show, i.e. the Koffee With Karan. Since then, he has made rapid strides in his international career.

Recently, Hardik's childhood coach recalled his ward's words after his tv show appearance.&nbsp;Speaking to Indian Express, Jitender Singh, his childhood coach recalled how tense Hardik was post the infamous episode and how he promised to move&nbsp;up the ladder once again.

"He hadn’t slept the whole night, na?,” the coach asked another person in the room (in Hardik's residence). "Tension nahin lena hai (Don’t take tension). You will get back to playing for India very soon. Jo ho gaya, voh ho gaya (what’s done is done), no use worrying about it. Come tomorrow to Reliance stadium. Now, smile," the coach revealed.

“I had booked a badminton court for us to play. Just to get the competitive juices and the joy of sport back in him. I wanted him to sweat out. It freed himself, usko ehsaas hua (he realised) that he is a sportsman and this is what he is born to do. Not chat shows," he further asserted.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-hardik-pandya-does-an-ms-dhoni-hands-over-trophy-to-gt-youngsters-after-ipl-2022-win-483511">WATCH: Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win</a>

Jitender further recalled Hardik's words&nbsp;post the big controversy. “Coach, you will not hear any negative thing about me after this," Jitender recalled Hardik's words. “He has held that word, his father would have been so proud today," he added.

Hardik will now shift his focus to India's forthcoming home T20I series versus South Africa, which will be his comeback in the blue jersey since the last year's&nbsp;ICC event. The series gets underway on June 9 in New Delhi.

Ahead of IPL 2022, many had their eyes on Hardik Pandya as the 28-year-old had been out of action since Team India's 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE. He had missed quite a few bilateral series for India as the star all-rounder was preparing for his comeback in IPL 2022.

Ahead of IPL 2022, many had their eyes on Hardik Pandya as the 28-year-old had been out of action since Team India's 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE. He had missed quite a few bilateral series for India as the star all-rounder was preparing for his comeback in IPL 2022. Dealing with a back issue, for the past few years, Hardik's comeback was keenly awaited as a great season would've ensured his return in Team India setup. Hardik not only rose to the occasion with the bat (487 runs overall) and bowled some tidy overs to also claim eight scalps, he led the new franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the just-concluded 15th season of the IPL. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: GT mentor Gary Kirsten heaps praise on Hardik Pandya, reveals his uniqueness as a captain Thus, Hardik has also shown his leadership credentials and is being widely praised for his calm and composed style of captaincy. However, things weren't at its best for the all-rounder ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup, when KL Rahul and he got involved in a huge controversy for their sexist and racist remarks on a television show, i.e. the Koffee With Karan. Since then, he has made rapid strides in his international career. Recently, Hardik's childhood coach recalled his ward's words after his tv show appearance. Speaking to Indian Express, Jitender Singh, his childhood coach recalled how tense Hardik was post the infamous episode and how he promised to move up the ladder once again. "He hadn’t slept the whole night, na?,” the coach asked another person in the room (in Hardik's residence). "Tension nahin lena hai (Don’t take tension). You will get back to playing for India very soon. Jo ho gaya, voh ho gaya (what’s done is done), no use worrying about it. Come tomorrow to Reliance stadium. Now, smile," the coach revealed. “I had booked a badminton court for us to play. Just to get the competitive juices and the joy of sport back in him. I wanted him to sweat out. It freed himself, usko ehsaas hua (he realised) that he is a sportsman and this is what he is born to do. Not chat shows," he further asserted. ALSO READ | WATCH: Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win Jitender further recalled Hardik's words post the big controversy. “Coach, you will not hear any negative thing about me after this," Jitender recalled Hardik's words. “He has held that word, his father would have been so proud today," he added. Hardik will now shift his focus to India's forthcoming home T20I series versus South Africa, which will be his comeback in the blue jersey since the last year's ICC event. The series gets underway on June 9 in New Delhi.

'You will hear...' - Hardik Pandya's coach reveals how all-rounder got past infamous tv show appearance

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad to win their maiden title in their first-ever IPL season.

The 15th season of the IPL was a special affair, which comprised two more teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and eventual winners Gujarat. It saw as many as 74 games being held across Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Ahmedabad and was a hugely successful season, with not much hurdles due to Covid-19, as all ten teams produced some emphatic contests.&nbsp;

While players, support staff, commentators and organisers have been lauded, the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI have won hearts by rewarding the 'unsung heroes', i.e. the groundsmen and curators for their overall efforts in ensuring the best quality of grounds and pitches were prepared for the players.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashish-nehra-becomes-1st-indian-to-achieve-huge-feat-after-gujarat-titans-win-ipl-2022-483475">Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022</a>

Thus, BCCI have generously rewarded the groundsmen and curators following the conclusion of IPL 15.&nbsp; The board's secretary Jay Shah wrote on Twitter, "I'm pleased to announce a prize money of INR 1.25 crores for the men who gave us the best games in #TATAIPL 2022. The unsung heroes - our curators and groundsmen across 6 IPL venues this season.

We've witnessed some high octane games and I would like thank each one of them for their hardwork. 
25 lacs each for CCI, Wankhede, DY Patil and MCA, Pune. 12.5 lacs each for Eden and Narendra Modi Stadium"

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I'm pleased to announce a prize money of INR 1.25 crores for the men who gave us the best games in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> 2022. The unsung heroes - our curators and groundsmen across 6 IPL venues this season.
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-final-virender-sehwag-questions-r-ashwin-for-not-sticking-to-off-spin-during-gt-vs-rr-clash-483558">IPL 2022 final: Virender Sehwag questions R Ashwin for not sticking to off spin during GT vs RR clash</a>

Talking about the IPL 2022 finale, GT beat RR by seven wickets after being asked to bowl first. Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan only managed a moderate 130-9 and Gujarat chased down the total with 11 balls to spare.

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad to win their maiden title in their first-ever IPL season.

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad to win their maiden title in their first-ever IPL season. The 15th season of the IPL was a special affair, which comprised two more teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and eventual winners Gujarat. It saw as many as 74 games being held across Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Ahmedabad and was a hugely successful season, with not much hurdles due to Covid-19, as all ten teams produced some emphatic contests. While players, support staff, commentators and organisers have been lauded, the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI have won hearts by rewarding the 'unsung heroes', i.e. the groundsmen and curators for their overall efforts in ensuring the best quality of grounds and pitches were prepared for the players. ALSO READ | Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022 Thus, BCCI have generously rewarded the groundsmen and curators following the conclusion of IPL 15. The board's secretary Jay Shah wrote on Twitter, "I'm pleased to announce a prize money of INR 1.25 crores for the men who gave us the best games in #TATAIPL 2022. The unsung heroes - our curators and groundsmen across 6 IPL venues this season. We've witnessed some high octane games and I would like thank each one of them for their hardwork. 25 lacs each for CCI, Wankhede, DY Patil and MCA, Pune. 12.5 lacs each for Eden and Narendra Modi Stadium" I'm pleased to announce a prize money of INR 1.25 crores for the men who gave us the best games in #TATAIPL 2022. The unsung heroes - our curators and groundsmen across 6 IPL venues this season. — Jay Shah (@JayShah) May 30, 2022 × ALSO READ | IPL 2022 final: Virender Sehwag questions R Ashwin for not sticking to off spin during GT vs RR clash Talking about the IPL 2022 finale, GT beat RR by seven wickets after being asked to bowl first. Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan only managed a moderate 130-9 and Gujarat chased down the total with 11 balls to spare.

BCCI announces whopping cash prize for 'unsung heroes' groundsmen & curators after IPL 2022's success

Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in IPL 2022 final, beating the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 29).&nbsp;

Hardik &amp; Co. were asked to bowl first and the 28-year-old skipper was right on the money as he ended a superb with the ball, finishing with 4-0-17-3 before also chipping in with the bat to help his side chase down a moderate 131-run target with 11 balls to spare. After the terrific win in their first-ever IPL season, many former cricketers and experts of the game have heaped praise on Hardik's leadership qualities. Gary Kirsten, GT's mentor and former Indian coach, also lauded Hardik and revealed his uniqueness as a leader.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashish-nehra-becomes-1st-indian-to-achieve-huge-feat-after-gujarat-titans-win-ipl-2022-483475">Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022</a>

Speaking to the broadcasters after the finale, the former South African international said, "He (Hardik) has been fantastic. I loved working with him. He is a high-profile guy in India, but he has been incredibly humble and willing to learn as a leader and get engaged with his players, which I think is really, really important as a leader. Especially in the IPL and in India, he has been really engaging with all his players. He wants to help them to be a better version of themselves. He has come in and played with real responsibility, which is very different to what we have seen in other IPLs. He has batted beautifully."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-hardik-pandya-does-an-ms-dhoni-hands-over-trophy-to-gt-youngsters-after-ipl-2022-win-483511">WATCH: Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win</a>

Hardik ended with his best-ever season with the bat, amassing 487 runs -- fourth-most overall -- and also chipped in with eight scalps in the recently-concluded IPL 15 season.&nbsp;He will now shift his focus to representing India in their forthcoming home T20I series versus South Africa, starting on June 09.

Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in IPL 2022 final, beating the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 29).

Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in IPL 2022 final, beating the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 29). Hardik & Co. were asked to bowl first and the 28-year-old skipper was right on the money as he ended a superb with the ball, finishing with 4-0-17-3 before also chipping in with the bat to help his side chase down a moderate 131-run target with 11 balls to spare. After the terrific win in their first-ever IPL season, many former cricketers and experts of the game have heaped praise on Hardik's leadership qualities. Gary Kirsten, GT's mentor and former Indian coach, also lauded Hardik and revealed his uniqueness as a leader. ALSO READ | Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022 Speaking to the broadcasters after the finale, the former South African international said, "He (Hardik) has been fantastic. I loved working with him. He is a high-profile guy in India, but he has been incredibly humble and willing to learn as a leader and get engaged with his players, which I think is really, really important as a leader. Especially in the IPL and in India, he has been really engaging with all his players. He wants to help them to be a better version of themselves. He has come in and played with real responsibility, which is very different to what we have seen in other IPLs. He has batted beautifully." ALSO READ | WATCH: Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win Hardik ended with his best-ever season with the bat, amassing 487 runs -- fourth-most overall -- and also chipped in with eight scalps in the recently-concluded IPL 15 season. He will now shift his focus to representing India in their forthcoming home T20I series versus South Africa, starting on June 09.

IPL 2022: GT mentor Gary Kirsten heaps praise on Hardik Pandya, reveals his uniqueness as a captain

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in IPL 2022 final to cap off a fairytale run by clinching their maiden title in their debut season. The Titans were the most consistent team in the league stage and were the first to qualify for the playoffs before beating Rajasthan Royals twice in the knockout stage to win the elusive trophy for the first time.

Gujarat Titans script fairytale run to win maiden IPL title in debut season

Gujarat Titans (GT) capped off a fabulous season by winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 title after defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final of the tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29). It was yet another clinical all-round performance from the Titans, who played some phenomenal cricket throughout the tournament. GT skipper Hardik Pandya has now won all five IPL finals that he has been part of in his career so far.

While it was an excellent team effort from the Titans, Pandya led from the front with both the bat and the ball. He bowled an exceptional spell during Rajasthan Royals' innings to restrict Sanju Samson &amp; Co. to just 130 runs finishing with figures of 3/17 in his four overs before playing a crucial knock of 34 runs during his side's run chase.

Pandya hailed his teammates after the victory and said the Titans have set the right example for the others to follow by showcasing that playing as a team will always help you in winning tournaments. He also said he has been lucky to have managed to win five IPL finals so far in his career.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandyas-gujarat-titans-claim-maiden-title-complete-list-of-ipl-winners-since-2008-483323">Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008</a>

"This is the right example for any team in the world. If you can play as a team and build a good unit with genuine people around, wonders can happen. I and Ashu pa, we like to play proper bowlers. Batters can obviously chip in, but most of the time I have seen in T20 cricket - it's a batter's game but bowlers win you games. A lot of times we won the games as well, but we always spoke about what are the things we missed out and how we can get better from here. Everyone chipped in. Count myself lucky winning 5 finals, it's been exciting," Pandya said after leading his side to their maiden IPL triumph.

"This is going to be a special one. We spoke about creating a legacy. Generation to come, everyone will remember this was the team who started this journey and to win the championship first year is very special," he added

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-final-captain-hardik-pandyas-all-round-blitz-take-gt-to-maiden-title-beat-rr-by-7-wickets-483332">IPL 2022 final: Captain Hardik Pandya's all-round blitz take GT to maiden title, beat RR by 7 wickets</a>

Pandya, who had only played for Mumbai Indians in his IPL career before joining Gujarat Titans this year, had been part of four finals with the Rohit Sharma-led side. He ended up on the winning side in all four of the summit clashes. He is now a part of an elite list of players in the IPL who have won the trophy as many as five times.

Gujarat Titans were far from favourites at the start of the season and not many had given them a chance to script a fairytale run in their debut season after what transpired for them at the mega auction. However, the likes of David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan and Hardik himself kept stepping up on different occasions to help the team win some games from difficult situations and create history.

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Gujarat Titans (GT) capped off a fabulous season by winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 title after defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final of the tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29).

Gujarat Titans (GT) capped off a fabulous season by winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 title after defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final of the tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29). It was yet another clinical all-round performance from the Titans, who played some phenomenal cricket throughout the tournament. GT skipper Hardik Pandya has now won all five IPL finals that he has been part of in his career so far. While it was an excellent team effort from the Titans, Pandya led from the front with both the bat and the ball. He bowled an exceptional spell during Rajasthan Royals' innings to restrict Sanju Samson & Co. to just 130 runs finishing with figures of 3/17 in his four overs before playing a crucial knock of 34 runs during his side's run chase. Pandya hailed his teammates after the victory and said the Titans have set the right example for the others to follow by showcasing that playing as a team will always help you in winning tournaments. He also said he has been lucky to have managed to win five IPL finals so far in his career. Also Read: Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008 "This is the right example for any team in the world. If you can play as a team and build a good unit with genuine people around, wonders can happen. I and Ashu pa, we like to play proper bowlers. Batters can obviously chip in, but most of the time I have seen in T20 cricket - it's a batter's game but bowlers win you games. A lot of times we won the games as well, but we always spoke about what are the things we missed out and how we can get better from here. Everyone chipped in. Count myself lucky winning 5 finals, it's been exciting," Pandya said after leading his side to their maiden IPL triumph. "This is going to be a special one. We spoke about creating a legacy. Generation to come, everyone will remember this was the team who started this journey and to win the championship first year is very special," he added Also Read: IPL 2022 final: Captain Hardik Pandya's all-round blitz take GT to maiden title, beat RR by 7 wickets Pandya, who had only played for Mumbai Indians in his IPL career before joining Gujarat Titans this year, had been part of four finals with the Rohit Sharma-led side. He ended up on the winning side in all four of the summit clashes. He is now a part of an elite list of players in the IPL who have won the trophy as many as five times. Gujarat Titans were far from favourites at the start of the season and not many had given them a chance to script a fairytale run in their debut season after what transpired for them at the mega auction. However, the likes of David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan and Hardik himself kept stepping up on different occasions to help the team win some games from difficult situations and create history. × .

'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title

Gujarat Titans (GT) ended their dream run in IPL 2022 by winning the final by seven wickets against Rajasthan Royals (RR)&nbsp;in front of their home fans, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, to make their maiden season an unforgettable affair.&nbsp;

Under Ashish Nehra's coaching, Gujarat defied all odds by being the first side to qualify for the playoffs, topping the group stage, being the first team to qualify for the final and emerging on top of RR in the summit clash to win the elusive title in their maiden IPL season (joining RR to become the second team to achieve this feat).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/complete-list-of-award-winners-from-ipl-2022-orange-cap-purple-cap-to-emerging-player-of-the-year-483407">Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year</a>

By leading GT to their maiden trophy, Nehra etched his name in the history books as he became the first-ever Indian coach to win the IPL title.&nbsp;

Here’s the list of all the head coaches who have won the IPL up till now:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Year</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Team</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Head coach</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Coach's nationality</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2008</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Rajasthan Royals</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Shane Warne</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2009</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Deccan Chargers</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Darren Lehmann</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2010</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Stephen Fleming</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">New Zealand</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2011</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Stephen Fleming</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">New Zealand</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2012</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Trevor Bayliss</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2013</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">John Wright</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">New Zealand</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2014</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Trevor Bayliss</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2015</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Ricky Ponting</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2016</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Tom Moody</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Australia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2017</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Mahela Jayawardene</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Sri Lanka</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2018</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Stephen Fleming</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">New Zealand</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2019</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Mahela Jayawardene</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Sri Lanka</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2020</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Mahela Jayawardene</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">Sri Lanka</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2021</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Stephen Fleming</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">New Zealand</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2022</td>
			<td style="width: 154px;">Gujarat Titans</td>
			<td style="width: 147px;">Ashish Nehra</td>
			<td style="width: 124px;">India</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandyas-gujarat-titans-claim-maiden-title-complete-list-of-ipl-winners-since-2008-483323">Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008</a>

From the above list, New Zealand's former opener and Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming's name appears for as many as four times. He is followed by Mahela Jayawardene, having led Mumbai Indians (MI) to three titles out of five, and Trevor Bayliss -- who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to both their titles so far.

Nehra's man-management, keeping it simple approach and ensuring a smooth and secure team environment has been hailed by many after Gujarat's resounding success in IPL 2022.

Gujarat Titans (GT) ended their dream run in IPL 2022 by winning the final by seven wickets against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in front of their home fans, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, to make their maiden season an unforgettable affair.

Gujarat Titans (GT) ended their dream run in IPL 2022 by winning the final by seven wickets against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in front of their home fans, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, to make their maiden season an unforgettable affair. Under Ashish Nehra's coaching, Gujarat defied all odds by being the first side to qualify for the playoffs, topping the group stage, being the first team to qualify for the final and emerging on top of RR in the summit clash to win the elusive title in their maiden IPL season (joining RR to become the second team to achieve this feat). ALSO READ | Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year By leading GT to their maiden trophy, Nehra etched his name in the history books as he became the first-ever Indian coach to win the IPL title. Here’s the list of all the head coaches who have won the IPL up till now: Year Team Head coach Coach's nationality 2008 Rajasthan Royals Shane Warne Australia 2009 Deccan Chargers Darren Lehmann Australia 2010 Chennai Super Kings Stephen Fleming New Zealand 2011 Chennai Super Kings Stephen Fleming New Zealand 2012 Kolkata Knight Riders Trevor Bayliss Australia 2013 Mumbai Indians John Wright New Zealand 2014 Kolkata Knight Riders Trevor Bayliss Australia 2015 Mumbai Indians Ricky Ponting Australia 2016 Sunrisers Hyderabad Tom Moody Australia 2017 Mumbai Indians Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka 2018 Chennai Super Kings Stephen Fleming New Zealand 2019 Mumbai Indians Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka 2020 Mumbai Indians Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka 2021 Chennai Super Kings Stephen Fleming New Zealand 2022 Gujarat Titans Ashish Nehra India ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008 From the above list, New Zealand's former opener and Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming's name appears for as many as four times. He is followed by Mahela Jayawardene, having led Mumbai Indians (MI) to three titles out of five, and Trevor Bayliss -- who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to both their titles so far. Nehra's man-management, keeping it simple approach and ensuring a smooth and secure team environment has been hailed by many after Gujarat's resounding success in IPL 2022.

Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) weren't expected to go very far in IPL 2022 edition. Comprising some key players and also a lot of inexperience&nbsp;in their squad, Gujarat stunned one and all as different players rose up to the occasion in every game to see them top the group stage and then become the first-ever team to reach the IPL 2022 final. Further, they were never threatened by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the summit clash as they romped past&nbsp;the one-time winners by seven wickets and claim the trophy in their maiden season.&nbsp;

Talking about the contest, the Sanju Samson-led RR franchise opted to bat first at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 29). Despite a good start by Yashasvi Jaiswal, RR never got going after the dismissals of captain Sanju and in-form opener Jos Buttler to manage only a paltry 130-9. Captain Hardik returned with 3 for 17 to lead from the front as Rajasthan was restricted to a below-par total. In reply, Shubman Gill's sedate 45 not out, Hardik's 30-ball 34 and David Miller's blistering 19-ball 32 propelled GT to an easy win as they clinched the title in their first-ever IPL season (joining RR to become only the second team to achieve this feat).

Thus, with GT claiming their first-ever trophy in the premier T20 tournament, here's a complete list of IPL winners since 2008:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Year</td>
			<td>Winners</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2008</td>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2009</td>
			<td>Deccan Chargers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2010</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2011</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2012</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2013</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2014</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2015</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2016</td>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2017</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2018</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2019</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2020</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2021</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2022</td>
			<td>Gujarat Titans</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-final-captain-hardik-pandyas-all-round-blitz-take-gt-to-maiden-title-beat-rr-by-7-wickets-483332">IPL 2022 final: Captain Hardik Pandya's all-round blitz take GT to maiden title, beat RR by 7 wickets</a>

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Team finishing first in league phase &amp; winning title 
Rajasthan Royals in 2008 
Mumbai Indians in 2017, 2019 &amp; 2020 
Gujarat Titans in 2022

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Indian captains winning IPL 
MS Dhoni 
Gautam Gambhir 
Rohit Sharma 
Hardik Pandya

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Hardik has so far appeared in five IPL finals and has returned with the trophy on every single occasion. With this win, the Ashish Nehra-Hardik Pandya pairing have proved critics wrong as no one expected the Gujarat franchise to go on to win the elusive title -- with every game won by them seeing different&nbsp;players rise to the occasion. On the other hand, Samson-led RR also exceeded expectations but fell short convincingly in the final hurdle.&nbsp;

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) weren't expected to go very far in IPL 2022 edition. Comprising some key players and also a lot of inexperience in their squad, Gujarat stunned one and all as different players rose up to the occasion in every game to see them top the group stage and then become the first-ever team to reach the IPL 2022 final.

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) weren't expected to go very far in IPL 2022 edition. Comprising some key players and also a lot of inexperience in their squad, Gujarat stunned one and all as different players rose up to the occasion in every game to see them top the group stage and then become the first-ever team to reach the IPL 2022 final. Further, they were never threatened by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the summit clash as they romped past the one-time winners by seven wickets and claim the trophy in their maiden season. Talking about the contest, the Sanju Samson-led RR franchise opted to bat first at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 29). Despite a good start by Yashasvi Jaiswal, RR never got going after the dismissals of captain Sanju and in-form opener Jos Buttler to manage only a paltry 130-9. Captain Hardik returned with 3 for 17 to lead from the front as Rajasthan was restricted to a below-par total. In reply, Shubman Gill's sedate 45 not out, Hardik's 30-ball 34 and David Miller's blistering 19-ball 32 propelled GT to an easy win as they clinched the title in their first-ever IPL season (joining RR to become only the second team to achieve this feat). Thus, with GT claiming their first-ever trophy in the premier T20 tournament, here's a complete list of IPL winners since 2008: Year Winners 2008 Rajasthan Royals 2009 Deccan Chargers 2010 Chennai Super Kings 2011 Chennai Super Kings 2012 Kolkata Knight Riders 2013 Mumbai Indians 2014 Kolkata Knight Riders 2015 Mumbai Indians 2016 Sunrisers Hyderabad 2017 Mumbai Indians 2018 Chennai Super Kings 2019 Mumbai Indians 2020 Mumbai Indians 2021 Chennai Super Kings 2022 Gujarat Titans ALSO READ | IPL 2022 final: Captain Hardik Pandya's all-round blitz take GT to maiden title, beat RR by 7 wickets Team finishing first in league phase & winning title Rajasthan Royals in 2008 Mumbai Indians in 2017, 2019 & 2020 Gujarat Titans in 2022 Indian captains winning IPL MS Dhoni Gautam Gambhir Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya Hardik has so far appeared in five IPL finals and has returned with the trophy on every single occasion. With this win, the Ashish Nehra-Hardik Pandya pairing have proved critics wrong as no one expected the Gujarat franchise to go on to win the elusive title -- with every game won by them seeing different players rise to the occasion. On the other hand, Samson-led RR also exceeded expectations but fell short convincingly in the final hurdle.

Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008

Gujarat Titans claim maiden IPL title, beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in final

Jos Buttler has been the star of IPL 2022 by quite some distance. The Rajasthan Royals opener scored four centuries in the course of the tournament and against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 final, Buttler surpassed Australia cricketer David Warner in the list of batsmen with most runs in an IPL season. Buttler ended the season with 863 runs in 17 matches and that is currently the second when it comes to number of runs scored by any batter in one IPL season – second only to Virat Kohli (973 runs in 2016). Warner went down to the third position with 848 runs in 17 matches (also in 2016).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-final-bcci-claims-huge-world-record-ahead-of-gt-vs-rr-clash-watch-483297" hreflang="en">IPL 2022 final: BCCI claims huge world record ahead of GT vs RR clash - WATCH</a>

Buttler struggled a bit against the GT bowlers during the summit clash but was able to score 39 off 35 deliveries with the help of five boundaries. However, he was unable to convert his start into a big knock as GT skipper dismissed him with Wriddhiman Saha taking an easy catch behind the stumps.

Earlier, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat in the crucial encounter. RR are looking for their second title since winning the competition back in 2008 while this is the debut season for GT.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/first-time-in-14-years-hardik-pandya-sanju-samson-to-achieve-unique-feat-in-ipl-2022-final-483260" hreflang="en">First time in 15 years! Hardik, Samson to achieve unique feat in IPL final</a>

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal

Jos Buttler has been the star of IPL 2022 by quite some distance. The Rajasthan Royals opener scored four centuries in the course of the tournament and against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 final, Buttler surpassed Australia cricketer David Warner in the list of batsmen with most runs in an IPL season.

Jos Buttler has been the star of IPL 2022 by quite some distance. The Rajasthan Royals opener scored four centuries in the course of the tournament and against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 final, Buttler surpassed Australia cricketer David Warner in the list of batsmen with most runs in an IPL season. Buttler ended the season with 863 runs in 17 matches and that is currently the second when it comes to number of runs scored by any batter in one IPL season – second only to Virat Kohli (973 runs in 2016). Warner went down to the third position with 848 runs in 17 matches (also in 2016). Also read | IPL 2022 final: BCCI claims huge world record ahead of GT vs RR clash - WATCH Buttler struggled a bit against the GT bowlers during the summit clash but was able to score 39 off 35 deliveries with the help of five boundaries. However, he was unable to convert his start into a big knock as GT skipper dismissed him with Wriddhiman Saha taking an easy catch behind the stumps. Earlier, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat in the crucial encounter. RR are looking for their second title since winning the competition back in 2008 while this is the debut season for GT. Also read | First time in 15 years! Hardik, Samson to achieve unique feat in IPL final Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal

IPL 2022 final: Jos Buttler surpasses David Warner, moves up to second in elite list

Mumbai Indians (MI) had a shambolic campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they were the first team to be knocked out from the race for the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the table with just eight points from 14 matches. The five-time champions went on to lose a record eight matches in a row at the start of the season and could never recover from the poor start as they eventually bowed out of the tournament.&nbsp;

However, putting the disappointing season behind MI star Suryakumar Yadav is already looking forward to the next season in 2023 and has set out the goals for himself and the franchise. Suryakumar, who is one of the key players in the Mumbai Indians squad, wants the team to bounce back and win their sixth title anyhow next season.

In a video shared by Mumbai Indians on social media, Suryakumar spoke about the franchise's goals for the next season and said they will have to add another trophy to their cabinet. "We've to lift the sixth (trophy) anyhow. It is unfortunate that this can't happen this year, fifth or sixth trophy, but next year, we have to add one more trophy anyhow," said Suryakumar.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-rajasthan-royals-break-the-jinx-why-gujarat-titans-are-favourites-to-win-ipl-2022-title-483218">Can Rajasthan Royals break the jinx? Why Gujarat Titans are favourites to win IPL 2022 title</a> 
&nbsp;

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SKY makes our goals for 2023 clear!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneFamily</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DilKholKe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DilKholKe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/surya_14kumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@surya_14kumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRo45</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrevisDewald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrevisDewald</a> MI TV <a href="https://t.co/WBPCrPwrZc">pic.twitter.com/WBPCrPwrZc</a>
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Suryakumar didn't have the best of campaigns for the Mumbai Indians season as his campaign was marred with injuries. The star batter had to miss the first few matches for his team due to a forearm injury before making a strong comeback. He went on to score 303 runs at an impressive average of 43.29 and a strike rate of over 145.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-to-replace-rohit-shoaib-akhtar-feels-gt-skipper-is-knocking-on-the-door-for-india-captaincy-483243">Hardik to replace Rohit? Shoaib Akhtar feels GT skipper is knocking on the door for India captaincy</a>

He was later ruled out of the tournament once again after picking up another injury before the end of MI's campaign. Suryakumar was one of the&nbsp;four players retained by Mumbai Indians ahead of the mega auction this year and will be hopeful of continuing his purple patch with the bat to help his team lift their fifth title in IPL 2023.

Mumbai Indians (MI) had a shambolic campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they were the first team to be knocked out from the race for the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the table with just eight points from 14 matches.

Mumbai Indians (MI) had a shambolic campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they were the first team to be knocked out from the race for the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the table with just eight points from 14 matches. The five-time champions went on to lose a record eight matches in a row at the start of the season and could never recover from the poor start as they eventually bowed out of the tournament. However, putting the disappointing season behind MI star Suryakumar Yadav is already looking forward to the next season in 2023 and has set out the goals for himself and the franchise. Suryakumar, who is one of the key players in the Mumbai Indians squad, wants the team to bounce back and win their sixth title anyhow next season. In a video shared by Mumbai Indians on social media, Suryakumar spoke about the franchise's goals for the next season and said they will have to add another trophy to their cabinet. "We've to lift the sixth (trophy) anyhow. It is unfortunate that this can't happen this year, fifth or sixth trophy, but next year, we have to add one more trophy anyhow," said Suryakumar. Also Read: Can Rajasthan Royals break the jinx? Why Gujarat Titans are favourites to win IPL 2022 title SKY makes our goals for 2023 clear!#OneFamily #DilKholKe #MumbaiIndians @surya_14kumar @ImRo45 @BrevisDewald MI TV pic.twitter.com/WBPCrPwrZc — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 29, 2022 × Suryakumar didn't have the best of campaigns for the Mumbai Indians season as his campaign was marred with injuries. The star batter had to miss the first few matches for his team due to a forearm injury before making a strong comeback. He went on to score 303 runs at an impressive average of 43.29 and a strike rate of over 145. Also Read: Hardik to replace Rohit? Shoaib Akhtar feels GT skipper is knocking on the door for India captaincy He was later ruled out of the tournament once again after picking up another injury before the end of MI's campaign. Suryakumar was one of the four players retained by Mumbai Indians ahead of the mega auction this year and will be hopeful of continuing his purple patch with the bat to help his team lift their fifth title in IPL 2023.

'We have to lift the 6th trophy anyhow': Suryakumar Yadav already aiming to inspire MI to glory in IPL 2023

Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar picked Gujarat Titans to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals but added that Sanju Samson &amp; Co will be motivated to claim the title in honour of Royals legend Shane Warne. GT topped the table at the end of the group stage while RR were second with two points less than their opponents. But Pandya has led him to victory on both the occasions when they have faced RR including in the Qualifier 1. In a conversation with Sportskeeda, Akhtar said that he wants the debutants to clinch the IPL title.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-jos-buttler-on-the-verge-of-breaking-david-warners-elite-record-in-final-against-gujarat-titans-483180" hreflang="en">Buttler on the verge of breaking Warner's elite record in IPL 2022 final vs GT</a>

“One team (Rajasthan) has made the final after 14 years. In memory of Shane Warne, I hope Rajasthan go out there and smash Gujarat. Heart says, ‘RR win it for Shane Warne’. They have faced a lot of difficulties to reach the final after 14 years. But, as I had said earlier, I also always wanted one of the new teams to win because they have played so well. I will go with Gujarat,” said Shoaib.

“Both Rajasthan and Gujarat will be nervous. RR will have a point to prove as they have made the final for the first time since 2008. They will be excited, and their aggression will be over the moon. On the other hand, Gujarat will also want to leave their mark in their first season” he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gujarat-titans-vs-rajasthan-royals-ipl-2022-final-head-to-head-stats-trivia-and-predicted-playing-xis-483211" hreflang="en">GT vs RR, IPL 2022 final: Head-to-head, stats, trivia and predicted playing XI</a>

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden praised Gujarat Titans but also pointed out an ominous sign for them during a show on Star Sports. “Their 4,5,6 have just been out of this world. But with this bouncy wicket which is very similar to Australian wicket so that could be really ominous sign for Gujarat Titans," the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener explained.

Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar picked Gujarat Titans to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals but added that Sanju Samson & Co will be motivated to claim the title in honour of Royals legend Shane Warne.

Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar picked Gujarat Titans to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals but added that Sanju Samson & Co will be motivated to claim the title in honour of Royals legend Shane Warne. GT topped the table at the end of the group stage while RR were second with two points less than their opponents. But Pandya has led him to victory on both the occasions when they have faced RR including in the Qualifier 1. In a conversation with Sportskeeda, Akhtar said that he wants the debutants to clinch the IPL title. Also read | Buttler on the verge of breaking Warner's elite record in IPL 2022 final vs GT “One team (Rajasthan) has made the final after 14 years. In memory of Shane Warne, I hope Rajasthan go out there and smash Gujarat. Heart says, ‘RR win it for Shane Warne’. They have faced a lot of difficulties to reach the final after 14 years. But, as I had said earlier, I also always wanted one of the new teams to win because they have played so well. I will go with Gujarat,” said Shoaib. “Both Rajasthan and Gujarat will be nervous. RR will have a point to prove as they have made the final for the first time since 2008. They will be excited, and their aggression will be over the moon. On the other hand, Gujarat will also want to leave their mark in their first season” he added. Also read | GT vs RR, IPL 2022 final: Head-to-head, stats, trivia and predicted playing XI Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden praised Gujarat Titans but also pointed out an ominous sign for them during a show on Star Sports. “Their 4,5,6 have just been out of this world. But with this bouncy wicket which is very similar to Australian wicket so that could be really ominous sign for Gujarat Titans," the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener explained.

Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2022 final: Shoaib Akhtar, Matthew Hayden pick their potential winners

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season has reached its finale and it is Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals for the coveted title. GT finished the group stages at the top of the table, and they will be eyeing their maiden title while it can be the second title for RR since winning it way back in 2008.

Head-to-head

Hardik Pandya &amp; Co will enjoy a slight advantage mentally as they have emerged victorious on both occasions when they faced Rajasthan Royals this season. Pandya and Lockie Ferguson guided GT to victory on the first occasion while David Miller was the star for them in Qualifier 1.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-jos-buttler-on-the-verge-of-breaking-david-warners-elite-record-in-final-against-gujarat-titans-483180" hreflang="en">Buttler on the verge of breaking Warner's elite record in IPL 2022 final vs GT</a>

Stats

Jos Buttler has been the best batsman in IPL 2022 by quite some distance but the England international has not looked comfortable against Rashid Khan. Rashid has dismissed him four times in 41 balls while conceding just 25 runs. The spinner from Afghanistan has also been quite economical against RR skipper Sanju Samson but he has dismissed the right-hander just once.

However, RR can bank on West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer to nullify the threat of Rashid as he has scored at the strike rate of 140 against the leg-spinner in the 45 balls he has faced.

Trivia

Gujarat Titans have been quite impressive in their debut season, and they have won seven encounters in the final over – the previous record being five for any IPL side. They have also slammed the highest number of fours in the tournament but when it comes to sixes, they are at the bottom of the list with RR dominating the show. Pandya &amp; Co also have the chance to become only the second team after Mumbai Indians to win the IPL title after topping the group stages.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gt-vs-rr-ipl-2022-today-match-prediction-who-will-win-final-between-gujarat-titans-and-rajasthan-royals-483161" hreflang="en">GT vs RR, IPL 2022 final prediction: Who will GT vs RR clash?</a>

Predicted XIs

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season has reached its finale and it is Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals for the coveted title. GT finished the group stages at the top of the table, and they will be eyeing their maiden title while it can be the second title for RR since winning it way back in 2008.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season has reached its finale and it is Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals for the coveted title. GT finished the group stages at the top of the table, and they will be eyeing their maiden title while it can be the second title for RR since winning it way back in 2008. Head-to-head Hardik Pandya & Co will enjoy a slight advantage mentally as they have emerged victorious on both occasions when they faced Rajasthan Royals this season. Pandya and Lockie Ferguson guided GT to victory on the first occasion while David Miller was the star for them in Qualifier 1. Also read | Buttler on the verge of breaking Warner's elite record in IPL 2022 final vs GT Stats Jos Buttler has been the best batsman in IPL 2022 by quite some distance but the England international has not looked comfortable against Rashid Khan. Rashid has dismissed him four times in 41 balls while conceding just 25 runs. The spinner from Afghanistan has also been quite economical against RR skipper Sanju Samson but he has dismissed the right-hander just once. However, RR can bank on West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer to nullify the threat of Rashid as he has scored at the strike rate of 140 against the leg-spinner in the 45 balls he has faced. Trivia Gujarat Titans have been quite impressive in their debut season, and they have won seven encounters in the final over – the previous record being five for any IPL side. They have also slammed the highest number of fours in the tournament but when it comes to sixes, they are at the bottom of the list with RR dominating the show. Pandya & Co also have the chance to become only the second team after Mumbai Indians to win the IPL title after topping the group stages. Also read | GT vs RR, IPL 2022 final prediction: Who will GT vs RR clash? Predicted XIs Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2022 final: Head-to-head, stats, trivia and predicted playing XIs

Supernovas beat Velocity in thrilling final to clinch third Women's IPL title

The discussion regarding Babar Azam’s inclusion in the list of top batters currently active in world cricket has been dominating headlines for quite some time now. The 27-year-old has been performing consistently for his national team and he had a particularly great outing against Australia in the home series. Royal Challengers Bangalore veteran Dinesh Karthik has now weighed in on the topic and he believes that Azam can not only become a top batter in all three formats of the game but can also join the ranks of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-liverpool-win-champions-league-a-look-at-jurgen-klopps-record-in-cup-finals-with-the-reds-482947">Can Liverpool win UCL 2021-22? A look at Jurgen Klopp's record in cup finals</a>

Azam scored consecutive hundreds in the first two Test matches against Australia this year and then followed it up with two more hundreds in the ODI series. The right-hander was the top-scorer for Pakistan in the one-off T20I encounter but it was not enough to clinch the win for Pakistan.

Speaking on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Review, Karthik explained that Azam has all the credentials to dominate world cricket in the coming years and become one of the top ranked cricketers in the world. The Pakistan skipper is currently top of the ODI and T20I rankings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-should-just-pack-his-bat-into-his-bag-michael-vaughan-has-an-interesting-advice-for-virat-kohli-482967" hreflang="en">'Should just pack his bat into his bag': Vaughan's interesting advice to Kohli</a>

"It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about, and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a 'Fab Five'," Karthik, who impressed with his finishing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, said.

"There is no doubt he is there or thereabouts... he is a very special player," Karthik added.

The discussion regarding Babar Azam’s inclusion in the list of top batters currently active in world cricket has been dominating headlines for quite some time now.

The discussion regarding Babar Azam’s inclusion in the list of top batters currently active in world cricket has been dominating headlines for quite some time now. The 27-year-old has been performing consistently for his national team and he had a particularly great outing against Australia in the home series. Royal Challengers Bangalore veteran Dinesh Karthik has now weighed in on the topic and he believes that Azam can not only become a top batter in all three formats of the game but can also join the ranks of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root. Also read | Can Liverpool win UCL 2021-22? A look at Jurgen Klopp's record in cup finals Azam scored consecutive hundreds in the first two Test matches against Australia this year and then followed it up with two more hundreds in the ODI series. The right-hander was the top-scorer for Pakistan in the one-off T20I encounter but it was not enough to clinch the win for Pakistan. Speaking on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Review, Karthik explained that Azam has all the credentials to dominate world cricket in the coming years and become one of the top ranked cricketers in the world. The Pakistan skipper is currently top of the ODI and T20I rankings. Also read | 'Should just pack his bat into his bag': Vaughan's interesting advice to Kohli "It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about, and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a 'Fab Five'," Karthik, who impressed with his finishing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, said. "There is no doubt he is there or thereabouts... he is a very special player," Karthik added.

Dinesh Karthik backs Pakistan cricketer to become top name in all three formats

IPL 2022 final: Players to watch out for in Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals clash

It has not been a season to remember for Virat Kohli as the former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was unable to score big in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and their campaign came to an end on Friday as they were beaten by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Kohli was once again not able to play a big knock as he was dismissed in the second over of the encounter. After the game, the star batsman took to social media to post an emotional message for his franchise. Kohli thanked the “12th Man Army” and also the team management for their continued support this season.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-should-just-pack-his-bat-into-his-bag-michael-vaughan-has-an-interesting-advice-for-virat-kohli-482967" hreflang="en">'Should just pack his bat into his bag': Vaughan's interesting advice to Kohli</a>

"Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. A big thanks to the management, support staff and all the people who are part of this amazing franchise. See you next season," Kohli wrote in the caption along a picture collage.

It was the first time that Kohli scored three golden ducks in the same IPL season and with just two half centuries, he could manage to score just 341 runs in 16 encounters. Although his side were quite close to reaching the final, a lot of questions were raised on his form and impact on the side.

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Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/mRx4rslWFK">pic.twitter.com/mRx4rslWFK</a>
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Kohli will be back in action for India in the one-off Test against England in Birmingham as he has been rested for the upcoming T20I home series against South Africa.

It has not been a season to remember for Virat Kohli as the former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was unable to score big in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and their campaign came to an end on Friday as they were beaten by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.

It has not been a season to remember for Virat Kohli as the former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was unable to score big in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and their campaign came to an end on Friday as they were beaten by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Kohli was once again not able to play a big knock as he was dismissed in the second over of the encounter. After the game, the star batsman took to social media to post an emotional message for his franchise. Kohli thanked the “12th Man Army” and also the team management for their continued support this season. Also read | 'Should just pack his bat into his bag': Vaughan's interesting advice to Kohli "Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. A big thanks to the management, support staff and all the people who are part of this amazing franchise. See you next season," Kohli wrote in the caption along a picture collage. It was the first time that Kohli scored three golden ducks in the same IPL season and with just two half centuries, he could manage to score just 341 runs in 16 encounters. Although his side were quite close to reaching the final, a lot of questions were raised on his form and impact on the side. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/mRx4rslWFK — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 28, 2022 × Kohli will be back in action for India in the one-off Test against England in Birmingham as he has been rested for the upcoming T20I home series against South Africa.

'See you next season': Virat Kohli posts emotional message after RCB's loss against RR

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara heaped praise on skipper Sanju Samson after his side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by seven wickets in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to storm into the final of IPL 2022. Rajasthan Royals chased down the target of 158 runs without breaking a sweat to book a spot against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the summit clash.

Samson has become only the second captain after the legendary Shane Warne to take RR into an IPL final. Warne had inspired the franchise to their maiden IPL triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. After enduring a disappointing campaign last year where they failed to make it to the playoffs, RR have done well to shun their critics in IPL 2022.

Sangakkara recently opened up on Samson's rise as a leader for Rajasthan Royals this season and revealed how the wicket-keeper batter has never let captaincy affect his batting. Sangakkara said Samson has been exceptional as captain and that his tactical awareness has also improved with time.

"Sanju has been exceptional. He started off with quite a tough test last season with a young side and a lot of upheavals because of COVID-19 bubbles in terms of players coming in and leaving, tournament of two halves but he has really grown into his role.

"He is very soft-spoken, very reserved individual. He is exceptionally skilled with the bat. He has shown a lot of passion and hunger to play for this franchise and take on this testing role of captaincy. Wicket-keeping, captaining and being the best batter in your side along with Jos Buttler is not an easy kind of role to fill but he has done it really well this season," Sangakarra said post RR's win over RCB on Friday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/maxwell-scores-big-runs-after-5-seasons-ex-rcb-star-questions-teams-decision-to-retain-aussie-all-rounder-482887">'Maxwell scores big runs after 5 seasons': Ex-RCB star questions team's decision to retain Aussie all-rounder</a>

Often, the IPL has witnessed star batters losing their sheen with the bat once given the added responsibility of leading their side. The likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant among others have all seen captaincy affect their individual game. However, Samson has led from the front with the bat and his strike rate too has not gone down this season.

"He has become more and more aware of what his role is -- that he is only captaining when is fielding and that when he is batting he is Sanju Samson the batter, who bats with freedom and enjoyment. His tactical awareness has improved right throughout and will keep getting better. He has really trusted his team. The team really looks up to him as a leader, how he has led them on the field and off it. I can't be prouder of how Sanju has grown," Sangakkara said lauding Samson.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-looking-down-with-a-lot-of-pride-jos-buttler-pays-tribute-to-shane-warne-as-rr-reach-ipl-2022-final-482860">He is looking down with a lot of pride: Jos Buttler pays tribute to Shane Warne as RR reach IPL 2022 final</a>

Rajasthan Royals have been one of the most consistent teams so far this season and will be looking to go all the way and lift the trophy when they take on debutants Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday (May 28). Rajasthan Royals won their first IPL title in 2008 and have since been chasing their 2nd trophy.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara heaped praise on skipper Sanju Samson after his side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by seven wickets in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to storm into the final of IPL 2022.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara heaped praise on skipper Sanju Samson after his side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by seven wickets in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to storm into the final of IPL 2022. Rajasthan Royals chased down the target of 158 runs without breaking a sweat to book a spot against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the summit clash. Samson has become only the second captain after the legendary Shane Warne to take RR into an IPL final. Warne had inspired the franchise to their maiden IPL triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. After enduring a disappointing campaign last year where they failed to make it to the playoffs, RR have done well to shun their critics in IPL 2022. Sangakkara recently opened up on Samson's rise as a leader for Rajasthan Royals this season and revealed how the wicket-keeper batter has never let captaincy affect his batting. Sangakkara said Samson has been exceptional as captain and that his tactical awareness has also improved with time. "Sanju has been exceptional. He started off with quite a tough test last season with a young side and a lot of upheavals because of COVID-19 bubbles in terms of players coming in and leaving, tournament of two halves but he has really grown into his role. "He is very soft-spoken, very reserved individual. He is exceptionally skilled with the bat. He has shown a lot of passion and hunger to play for this franchise and take on this testing role of captaincy. Wicket-keeping, captaining and being the best batter in your side along with Jos Buttler is not an easy kind of role to fill but he has done it really well this season," Sangakarra said post RR's win over RCB on Friday. Also Read: 'Maxwell scores big runs after 5 seasons': Ex-RCB star questions team's decision to retain Aussie all-rounder Often, the IPL has witnessed star batters losing their sheen with the bat once given the added responsibility of leading their side. The likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant among others have all seen captaincy affect their individual game. However, Samson has led from the front with the bat and his strike rate too has not gone down this season. "He has become more and more aware of what his role is -- that he is only captaining when is fielding and that when he is batting he is Sanju Samson the batter, who bats with freedom and enjoyment. His tactical awareness has improved right throughout and will keep getting better. He has really trusted his team. The team really looks up to him as a leader, how he has led them on the field and off it. I can't be prouder of how Sanju has grown," Sangakkara said lauding Samson. Also Read: He is looking down with a lot of pride: Jos Buttler pays tribute to Shane Warne as RR reach IPL 2022 final Rajasthan Royals have been one of the most consistent teams so far this season and will be looking to go all the way and lift the trophy when they take on debutants Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday (May 28). Rajasthan Royals won their first IPL title in 2008 and have since been chasing their 2nd trophy.

'He is only captaining when fielding': Kumar Sangakkara on Sanju Samson's rise as a leader for RR in IPL 2022

Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 edition to set up a final date with Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans (GT). After losing the Qualifier 1 by seven wickets, Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan produced an all-round effort to beat the three-time runners-up to beautifully set up a final clash versus Gujarat.

On Friday evening (May 27), Faf &amp; Co. were asked to bat first as Sanju Samson finally managed to win the coin toss at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. Being asked to bat first, RCB lost opener Virat Kohli for cheap, being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna for the second successive occasion, as Faf failed to lift the run-rate despite Rajat Patidar, the Eliminator's Player-of-the-Match, going great guns from his end.&nbsp;

While Obed McCoy&nbsp;dismissed Faf, Patidar held his end before his dismissal, 42-ball 58, changed the complexion of the game. From thereon, RCB never got going as they managed only 34 runs for the loss of five wickets in the final five overs. Even Dinesh Karthik, RCB's in-form finisher, failed to get going as&nbsp;McCoy and Prasidh returned with three scalps each.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rcb-vs-rr-rajat-patidar-joins-suresh-raina-in-unique-list-with-blistering-58-in-qualifier-2-482719">IPL 2022, RCB vs RR: Rajat Patidar joins Suresh Raina in unique list with blistering 58 in Qualifier 2</a>

In reply, RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler took on Md Siraj from the word go. The first-wicket stand took Rajasthan to a solid start before Jaiswal fell with the team's&nbsp;score at 61. Sanju joined Buttler who accelerated with ease and smacked some eye-catching boundaries -- going after Siraj, Shahbad Ahmed and Wanindu Hasaranga -- as RCB bowlers couldn't hold onto a tight line and length. Despite Samson's dismissal slowing things down to an extent, Buttler held his end and brought up his fifth IPL ton, fourth of the season, to propel RR into the final. The Englishman has returned to form in the playoffs and will hope for another memorable knock in the summit clash to help his side beat favourites and hosts Gujarat.

JOS - THE BOSS

Most 100s in IPL 
6 Chris Gayle 
5 Virat Kohli/ Jos Buttler 
4 Shane Watson/ David Warner/ KL Rahul

Hundreds in IPL Play Offs 
122 V Sehwag PBKS v CSK 2014 (Q2) 
117*S Watson CSK v SRH 2018 (Final) 
115*W Saha PBKS v KKR 2014 (Final) 
113 M Vijay CSK v DC 2012 (Q2) 
112*R Patidar RCB vs LSG 2022 (Eliminator) 
106*J Buttler RR vs RCB 2022 (Q2)

Buttler's 106*, off 60 deliveries, was laced with 10 fours and 6 sixes at a whopping strike rate of 176.67. The final between Gujarat and Rajasthan will be held on May 29 (Sunday) at the same venue.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 edition to set up a final date with Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans (GT).

Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 edition to set up a final date with Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans (GT). After losing the Qualifier 1 by seven wickets, Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan produced an all-round effort to beat the three-time runners-up to beautifully set up a final clash versus Gujarat. On Friday evening (May 27), Faf & Co. were asked to bat first as Sanju Samson finally managed to win the coin toss at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. Being asked to bat first, RCB lost opener Virat Kohli for cheap, being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna for the second successive occasion, as Faf failed to lift the run-rate despite Rajat Patidar, the Eliminator's Player-of-the-Match, going great guns from his end. While Obed McCoy dismissed Faf, Patidar held his end before his dismissal, 42-ball 58, changed the complexion of the game. From thereon, RCB never got going as they managed only 34 runs for the loss of five wickets in the final five overs. Even Dinesh Karthik, RCB's in-form finisher, failed to get going as McCoy and Prasidh returned with three scalps each. ALSO READ | IPL 2022, RCB vs RR: Rajat Patidar joins Suresh Raina in unique list with blistering 58 in Qualifier 2 In reply, RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler took on Md Siraj from the word go. The first-wicket stand took Rajasthan to a solid start before Jaiswal fell with the team's score at 61. Sanju joined Buttler who accelerated with ease and smacked some eye-catching boundaries -- going after Siraj, Shahbad Ahmed and Wanindu Hasaranga -- as RCB bowlers couldn't hold onto a tight line and length. Despite Samson's dismissal slowing things down to an extent, Buttler held his end and brought up his fifth IPL ton, fourth of the season, to propel RR into the final. The Englishman has returned to form in the playoffs and will hope for another memorable knock in the summit clash to help his side beat favourites and hosts Gujarat. JOS - THE BOSS Most 100s in IPL 6 Chris Gayle 5 Virat Kohli/ Jos Buttler 4 Shane Watson/ David Warner/ KL Rahul Hundreds in IPL Play Offs 122 V Sehwag PBKS v CSK 2014 (Q2) 117*S Watson CSK v SRH 2018 (Final) 115*W Saha PBKS v KKR 2014 (Final) 113 M Vijay CSK v DC 2012 (Q2) 112*R Patidar RCB vs LSG 2022 (Eliminator) 106*J Buttler RR vs RCB 2022 (Q2) Buttler's 106*, off 60 deliveries, was laced with 10 fours and 6 sixes at a whopping strike rate of 176.67. The final between Gujarat and Rajasthan will be held on May 29 (Sunday) at the same venue.

Jos Buttler slams 4th ton of IPL 2022 as RR beat RCB by 7 wickets in Qualifier 2 to enter final

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs as Jos Buttler's magnificent century powered Rajasthan Royals into the final with a dominant victory. RCB's retentions have been questioned after the franchise's yet another unsuccessful attempt in lifting their maiden IPL trophy.

RCB had decided to retain three players ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. They kept hold of former captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj heading into the auction. Neither of the three retained players managed to impress for the Faf du Plessis-led side this season.

While Kohli's struggles with the bat continued throughout the season, Siraj was taken to the cleaners by the batters and failed to bag wickets regularly. Maxwell, on the other hand, failed to make an impact with the bat or the ball. Former RCB star Parthiv Patel recently questioned the franchise's decision to retain Maxwell on the basis of just one good season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-looking-down-with-a-lot-of-pride-jos-buttler-pays-tribute-to-shane-warne-as-rr-reach-ipl-2022-final-482860">He is looking down with a lot of pride:&nbsp;Buttler pays tribute to Shane Warne as RR reach IPL 2022 final</a>

Patel said he was surprised to see RCB retain Maxwell as the Australian all-rounder has rarely managed to perform consistently for two consecutive seasons in the IPL. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter said Maxwell performs once every five years and RCB expected him to perform as he did last year.

"I was surprised to see RCB retain Glenn Maxwell on the basis of one good season. He has been inconsistent with his performances. He scores big runs after every five seasons. He has been consistent with his inconsistency. RCB expected him to perform like he did last year, but that didn't happen," Patel said on Cricbuzz.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammed-siraj-creates-unwanted-record-as-rajasthan-royals-end-rcbs-campaign-in-ipl-2022-482835">Mohammed Siraj creates unwanted record as Rajasthan Royals end RCB's campaign in IPL 2022</a>

Maxwell was roped in by RCB ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to have a great season. He scored 513 runs in 15 matches for RCB last season at an average of over 42 and a strike rate of 144.01. However, this season, his performance dropped once again as he could only manage 301 runs in 13 matches for the team.

Patel believes both Siraj and Maxwell, who had a season to forget in IPL 2022, will fetch lesser money than what they are earning at RCB if they were released by the franchise before next season.

"Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj are two players who have had a terrible season. The franchise chose to retain them as they thought they would have gone for a lot of money at the auction. But even if they release them now, they will still fetch lesser amounts than what RCB are paying them currently," said the former RCB star.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs as Jos Buttler's magnificent century powered Rajasthan Royals into the final with a dominant victory. RCB's retentions have been questioned after the franchise's yet another unsuccessful attempt in lifting their maiden IPL trophy. RCB had decided to retain three players ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. They kept hold of former captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj heading into the auction. Neither of the three retained players managed to impress for the Faf du Plessis-led side this season. While Kohli's struggles with the bat continued throughout the season, Siraj was taken to the cleaners by the batters and failed to bag wickets regularly. Maxwell, on the other hand, failed to make an impact with the bat or the ball. Former RCB star Parthiv Patel recently questioned the franchise's decision to retain Maxwell on the basis of just one good season. Also Read: He is looking down with a lot of pride: Buttler pays tribute to Shane Warne as RR reach IPL 2022 final Patel said he was surprised to see RCB retain Maxwell as the Australian all-rounder has rarely managed to perform consistently for two consecutive seasons in the IPL. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter said Maxwell performs once every five years and RCB expected him to perform as he did last year. "I was surprised to see RCB retain Glenn Maxwell on the basis of one good season. He has been inconsistent with his performances. He scores big runs after every five seasons. He has been consistent with his inconsistency. RCB expected him to perform like he did last year, but that didn't happen," Patel said on Cricbuzz. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj creates unwanted record as Rajasthan Royals end RCB's campaign in IPL 2022 Maxwell was roped in by RCB ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to have a great season. He scored 513 runs in 15 matches for RCB last season at an average of over 42 and a strike rate of 144.01. However, this season, his performance dropped once again as he could only manage 301 runs in 13 matches for the team. Patel believes both Siraj and Maxwell, who had a season to forget in IPL 2022, will fetch lesser money than what they are earning at RCB if they were released by the franchise before next season. "Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj are two players who have had a terrible season. The franchise chose to retain them as they thought they would have gone for a lot of money at the auction. But even if they release them now, they will still fetch lesser amounts than what RCB are paying them currently," said the former RCB star.

'Maxwell scores big runs after 5 seasons': Ex-RCB star questions team's decision to retain Aussie all-rounder

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) locked horns with perennial underachievers Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022's Eliminator at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday (May 25). In a high-scoring thriller, the three-time runners-up RCB stunned LSG by 14 runs to edge past them and book a slot in Qualifier 2.

Opting to bowl first, Rahul &amp; Co. leaked runs at will as No. 3 batter Rajat Patidar's stunning 112*, laced with 12 fours and 7 sixes at a whopping strike rate of 207.41, helped RCB post 207-4. Dinesh Karthik also contributed with an impressive 23-ball 37&nbsp;not out.&nbsp;In reply, LSG lost in-form opener Quinton de Kock for cheap but had skipper Rahul's presence till the penultimate over before losing by 14 runs to bow out of the tournament.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/virat-rohits-barren-run-to-mi-csks-mighty-fall-5-surprising-elements-from-ipl-2022s-league-stage-481871">Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage</a>

While Rahul top-scored for his side with a good-looking 58-ball 79, his strike rate was below 150 (136.21) and never managed to accelerate consistently to draw some criticism post Lucknow's defeat. Former Indian cricketer-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar dived deep into Rahul's strike rate issues and pointed out how he costs his side in some crunch run-chases by looking to bat deeper than quicker.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar opined how something similar would happen while Rahul was leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021 - where finishers like Nicholas Pooran would not get enough time to get their eye in and go big.

"Quinton de Kock's wicket was very crucial because that would have taken the pressure off KL Rahul. KL Rahul's innings is something that we have seen before, when he was captain of Punjab Kings, the team would fall short of a run chase. And the scenario would be the same. You will have a KL Rahul bat till the very end, they would have lost three or four wickets, and people like Pooran would come in, like Evin Lewis came in the last two overs, Krunal and Stoinis towards the last, so it's like working with the crumbs and you have to come in and make up for the lack of the pace the innings had," Manjrekar said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rajat-patidars-ton-helps-rcb-knock-lucknow-super-giants-out-of-ipl-2022-to-face-rr-in-qualifier-2-482197">Rajat Patidar's ton helps RCB knock Lucknow Super Giants out of IPL 2022, to face RR in Qualifier 2</a>

At the post-match presentation, Rahul shifted the blame on the fielders for LSG's exit. "I think it's quite obvious - the reasons why we didn't win. We let ourselves down in the field. Dropping easy catches never helps. Difference was obviously Patidar playing such a knock. When someone in the top three scores a hundred, more often the team wins. They fielded really well and we were poor. We'll take back a lot of positives. It's a new franchise. We've made a lot of mistakes, every team does that. Have to try and come back stronger," he stated.

Now, RCB face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 on Friday (May 28) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad and the winner will face Gujarat Titans (GT), at the same venue, in the final on Sunday (May 29).

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) locked horns with perennial underachievers Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022's Eliminator at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday (May 25).

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) locked horns with perennial underachievers Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022's Eliminator at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday (May 25). In a high-scoring thriller, the three-time runners-up RCB stunned LSG by 14 runs to edge past them and book a slot in Qualifier 2. Opting to bowl first, Rahul & Co. leaked runs at will as No. 3 batter Rajat Patidar's stunning 112*, laced with 12 fours and 7 sixes at a whopping strike rate of 207.41, helped RCB post 207-4. Dinesh Karthik also contributed with an impressive 23-ball 37 not out. In reply, LSG lost in-form opener Quinton de Kock for cheap but had skipper Rahul's presence till the penultimate over before losing by 14 runs to bow out of the tournament. ALSO READ | Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage While Rahul top-scored for his side with a good-looking 58-ball 79, his strike rate was below 150 (136.21) and never managed to accelerate consistently to draw some criticism post Lucknow's defeat. Former Indian cricketer-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar dived deep into Rahul's strike rate issues and pointed out how he costs his side in some crunch run-chases by looking to bat deeper than quicker. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar opined how something similar would happen while Rahul was leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021 - where finishers like Nicholas Pooran would not get enough time to get their eye in and go big. "Quinton de Kock's wicket was very crucial because that would have taken the pressure off KL Rahul. KL Rahul's innings is something that we have seen before, when he was captain of Punjab Kings, the team would fall short of a run chase. And the scenario would be the same. You will have a KL Rahul bat till the very end, they would have lost three or four wickets, and people like Pooran would come in, like Evin Lewis came in the last two overs, Krunal and Stoinis towards the last, so it's like working with the crumbs and you have to come in and make up for the lack of the pace the innings had," Manjrekar said. ALSO READ | Rajat Patidar's ton helps RCB knock Lucknow Super Giants out of IPL 2022, to face RR in Qualifier 2 At the post-match presentation, Rahul shifted the blame on the fielders for LSG's exit. "I think it's quite obvious - the reasons why we didn't win. We let ourselves down in the field. Dropping easy catches never helps. Difference was obviously Patidar playing such a knock. When someone in the top three scores a hundred, more often the team wins. They fielded really well and we were poor. We'll take back a lot of positives. It's a new franchise. We've made a lot of mistakes, every team does that. Have to try and come back stronger," he stated. Now, RCB face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 on Friday (May 28) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad and the winner will face Gujarat Titans (GT), at the same venue, in the final on Sunday (May 29).

'If I was KL Rahul's coach, I would....' - Sanjay Manjrekar opines after RCB beat LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has lauded Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Pandya has been exceptional as captain in his debut stint with GT and has already inspired them to their maiden final in their very first season in the league. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets on Tuesday (May 24) to become the first team to secure a spot in the final of IPL 2022.

It was a clinical batting performance from the Titans after being asked to chase down a strong target of 189 runs in the Qualifier 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. David Miller turned out to be the hero with the bat for GT as he played a sensational knock of unbeaten 68 off 38 balls and was well supported by Pandya, who scored an unbeaten 40 off just 27 balls

Pandya has not only impressed as the leader of the side but has also led from the front when it comes to his performances with the willow. He has notched up 453 runs in 14 matches for GT at an impressive average of 45.30 and a strike rate of over 132. Pandya has also picked up five wickets for his team in nine innings so far this season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-india-spinner-amit-mishra-takes-brutal-dig-at-shahid-afridi-after-latters-tweet-on-yasin-malik-482053">Ex-India spinner Amit Mishra takes brutal dig at Shahid Afridi after latter's tweet on Yasin Malik</a>

Kaif heaped praise on Pandya for his captaincy and called him the best captain of IPL 2022. The former India batter also lauded Hardik for his tactical decisions and bowling changes which helped GT become the first team to make it to the final of the tournament this year.

"The guy (Pandya) stands at mid-off and speaks to the bowler on every ball, so much coordination, so much talk, you can talk about the transparency or the role. We didn't see a better captain than Hardik Pandya in this IPL, he did fantastic captaincy," said Kaif on Star Sports.

"He knows when to bat or bowl after winning the toss. They won eight of their first nine matches, they played badly after that, they came here after losing three of their last five matches. This was a pressure game for them but still said that these are new conditions, it is overcast, it had rained, so they will field first," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-unfair-for-rishabh-pant-to-be-compared-with-ms-dhoni-says-bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-482008">It's unfair for Rishabh Pant to be compared with MS Dhoni, says BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly</a>

During GT's run-chase against RR on Tuesday, Pandya walked out to bat at number 4 and joined forces with Miller in the middle to post a match-winning stand of unbeaten 106 runs for the fourth wicket. Pandya looked in a fabulous touch and looked in complete control while batting.

Kaif lauded the GT skipper for stepping up and taking the responsibility of batting at no.4 for his team in a crucial run-chase and taking them over the line with Miller.

"When he (Pandya) came, he had reached 22 runs off the 11 balls, it shows he has the form. He said that he will play at No. 4, he has decided his number. He looked in control overall and the way both of them finished, it was a fantastic partnership," said Kaif. 
&nbsp;

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has lauded Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has lauded Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Pandya has been exceptional as captain in his debut stint with GT and has already inspired them to their maiden final in their very first season in the league. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets on Tuesday (May 24) to become the first team to secure a spot in the final of IPL 2022. It was a clinical batting performance from the Titans after being asked to chase down a strong target of 189 runs in the Qualifier 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. David Miller turned out to be the hero with the bat for GT as he played a sensational knock of unbeaten 68 off 38 balls and was well supported by Pandya, who scored an unbeaten 40 off just 27 balls Pandya has not only impressed as the leader of the side but has also led from the front when it comes to his performances with the willow. He has notched up 453 runs in 14 matches for GT at an impressive average of 45.30 and a strike rate of over 132. Pandya has also picked up five wickets for his team in nine innings so far this season. Also Read: Ex-India spinner Amit Mishra takes brutal dig at Shahid Afridi after latter's tweet on Yasin Malik Kaif heaped praise on Pandya for his captaincy and called him the best captain of IPL 2022. The former India batter also lauded Hardik for his tactical decisions and bowling changes which helped GT become the first team to make it to the final of the tournament this year. "The guy (Pandya) stands at mid-off and speaks to the bowler on every ball, so much coordination, so much talk, you can talk about the transparency or the role. We didn't see a better captain than Hardik Pandya in this IPL, he did fantastic captaincy," said Kaif on Star Sports. "He knows when to bat or bowl after winning the toss. They won eight of their first nine matches, they played badly after that, they came here after losing three of their last five matches. This was a pressure game for them but still said that these are new conditions, it is overcast, it had rained, so they will field first," he added. Also Read: It's unfair for Rishabh Pant to be compared with MS Dhoni, says BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly During GT's run-chase against RR on Tuesday, Pandya walked out to bat at number 4 and joined forces with Miller in the middle to post a match-winning stand of unbeaten 106 runs for the fourth wicket. Pandya looked in a fabulous touch and looked in complete control while batting. Kaif lauded the GT skipper for stepping up and taking the responsibility of batting at no.4 for his team in a crucial run-chase and taking them over the line with Miller. "When he (Pandya) came, he had reached 22 runs off the 11 balls, it shows he has the form. He said that he will play at No. 4, he has decided his number. He looked in control overall and the way both of them finished, it was a fantastic partnership," said Kaif.

Mohammad Kaif lauds Hardik Pandya as GT reach final: Haven't seen a better captain than him in IPL 2022

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