Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills. Umran also bowled the second-fastest delivery in IPL 2020 at 157 kmph.

He would have held the record for the fastest delivery bowled in the 15th edition of the tournament, however, his feat was surpassed by Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Lockie Ferguson in the IPL 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals. Ferguson went past Umran with a sensational 157.3 kmph yorker against Jos Buttler.

Not just Umran and Lockie but there were several other Indian and overseas fast bowlers who displayed great pace throughout the tournament and clocked good speed consistently. Recently, Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked about the stunning pace of the likes of Umran and Lockie in IPL 2022.

One of the finest fast bowlers in the world at present, Afridi had a very interesting response. The Pakistan pacer said speed is nothing if a bowler doesn't have proper line and length along with variations.

“Speed can’t help you if you don’t have line and length and swing,” Shaheen told reporters during a press conference ahead of Pakistan's ODI series against West Indies at home.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-wife-and-kids-helped-me-to-stand-r-ashwin-recalls-indias-miraculous-escape-in-scg-test-484780">My wife and kids helped me to stand: R Ashwin recalls India's miraculous escape in SCG Test</a>

Shaheen has also had a remarkable rise in international cricket over the years. From a young prodigious talent, the pacer has grown into one of the best in the world at present and was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2021. He has been Pakistan's best performer with the ball across formats.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-captain-babar-azam-reacts-to-dks-he-has-potential-to-become-no-1-batter-across-formats-remark-484448">Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark</a>

Shaheen was the destructor-in-chief for Pakistan in their home series against Australia earlier this year and will be hoping to continue his fine form against West Indies. The Pakistan pacer believes it will be challenging for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in intense heat but they are ready for the challenge.

“The weather is hot but we are looking forward to playing good cricket in it. It would be a tough challenge for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in summer but as a professional, we are ready to face it,” said Shaheen.

&nbsp;

Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills.

Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills. Umran also bowled the second-fastest delivery in IPL 2020 at 157 kmph. He would have held the record for the fastest delivery bowled in the 15th edition of the tournament, however, his feat was surpassed by Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Lockie Ferguson in the IPL 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals. Ferguson went past Umran with a sensational 157.3 kmph yorker against Jos Buttler. Not just Umran and Lockie but there were several other Indian and overseas fast bowlers who displayed great pace throughout the tournament and clocked good speed consistently. Recently, Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked about the stunning pace of the likes of Umran and Lockie in IPL 2022. One of the finest fast bowlers in the world at present, Afridi had a very interesting response. The Pakistan pacer said speed is nothing if a bowler doesn't have proper line and length along with variations. “Speed can’t help you if you don’t have line and length and swing,” Shaheen told reporters during a press conference ahead of Pakistan's ODI series against West Indies at home. Also Read: My wife and kids helped me to stand: R Ashwin recalls India's miraculous escape in SCG Test Shaheen has also had a remarkable rise in international cricket over the years. From a young prodigious talent, the pacer has grown into one of the best in the world at present and was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2021. He has been Pakistan's best performer with the ball across formats. Also Read: Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark Shaheen was the destructor-in-chief for Pakistan in their home series against Australia earlier this year and will be hoping to continue his fine form against West Indies. The Pakistan pacer believes it will be challenging for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in intense heat but they are ready for the challenge. “The weather is hot but we are looking forward to playing good cricket in it. It would be a tough challenge for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in summer but as a professional, we are ready to face it,” said Shaheen.

'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Marsh played a key role for DC with the bat and the ball and almost helped the Rishabh Pant-led side qualify for the playoffs. However, it was not an easy start for the Aussie star as he had to battle an injury and COVID-19 before cementing his spot in the side.

Marsh joined the Delhi Capitals squad later than some of the other overseas players due to international duty with Australia. He was still recovering from a hip flexor injury when he joined the rest of the squad and had to miss the first few games. Marsh later tested positive for COVID-19 and his comeback was further delayed.

However, the Aussie all-rounder was quick to bounce back from the early hiccups and never looked back once he got going. Marsh played some important knocks for his side and looked in solid touch throughout the tournament.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-chairman-greg-barclay-warns-of-reduction-in-volume-of-test-cricket-in-future-485071">ICC chairman Greg Barclay warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future</a>

He recently opened on his initial struggles in IPL 2022 and said he felt he was cursed when playing in India but enjoyed his time in the IPL 2022 once he returned to the squad after recovering from COVID-19.

"After my first couple of weeks there I thought that I was cursed in India," Marsh told reporters on Saturday.

"I got through my initial injury which was very minor but then to play one game and get COVID, it was a bit of a shaky start but once I got going it was nice to put a few consistent performances on the board. I absolutely loved my time there," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-on-working-in-ipl-despite-being-an-mp-i-feed-5000-people-every-month-from-my-own-pocket-485062">Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket</a>

Marsh is currently in Sri Lanka with the rest of the Australian squad for their upcoming series against the hosts. Australia are scheduled to play a full-fledged series consisting of 3 T20Is, 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. Marsh will be hoping to continue his fine form against Sri Lanka after scoring 251 runs and picking up 4 wickets for DC in IPL 2022.

&nbsp;

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Marsh played a key role for DC with the bat and the ball and almost helped the Rishabh Pant-led side qualify for the playoffs. However, it was not an easy start for the Aussie star as he had to battle an injury and COVID-19 before cementing his spot in the side. Marsh joined the Delhi Capitals squad later than some of the other overseas players due to international duty with Australia. He was still recovering from a hip flexor injury when he joined the rest of the squad and had to miss the first few games. Marsh later tested positive for COVID-19 and his comeback was further delayed. However, the Aussie all-rounder was quick to bounce back from the early hiccups and never looked back once he got going. Marsh played some important knocks for his side and looked in solid touch throughout the tournament. Also Read: ICC chairman Greg Barclay warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future He recently opened on his initial struggles in IPL 2022 and said he felt he was cursed when playing in India but enjoyed his time in the IPL 2022 once he returned to the squad after recovering from COVID-19. "After my first couple of weeks there I thought that I was cursed in India," Marsh told reporters on Saturday. "I got through my initial injury which was very minor but then to play one game and get COVID, it was a bit of a shaky start but once I got going it was nice to put a few consistent performances on the board. I absolutely loved my time there," he added. Also Read: Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket Marsh is currently in Sri Lanka with the rest of the Australian squad for their upcoming series against the hosts. Australia are scheduled to play a full-fledged series consisting of 3 T20Is, 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. Marsh will be hoping to continue his fine form against Sri Lanka after scoring 251 runs and picking up 4 wickets for DC in IPL 2022.

'Thought I was cursed in India': Australian star Mitchell Marsh opens up on initial struggles in IPL 2022

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament). The cricketer-turned-politician is a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from the East Delhi constituency and has been working for the welfare of the people in his constituency by providing them with several facilities. However, Gambhir has often been questioned for juggling between politics and cricket.

Despite switching his career to politics and being an acting MP, Gambhir has not entirely stayed away from cricket. He has worked as a commentator and an expert in various tournaments in the past and was Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

During a press conference on BJP's 8 years in power in India, Gambhir was asked about his jobs in cricket despite being an active politician now. The former India cricketer came up with a befitting reply and pointed out how he feeds 5,000 people every month through his NGO in Delhi and has also set up a library worth Rs 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) in his constituency.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-bradmans-son-changed-his-name-legendary-kapil-dev-on-burden-of-expectations-on-arjun-tendulkar-485012">'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Legendary Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar</a>

Gambhir has set up a kitchen in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar where the poor and needy can get meals at the cost of just Rs 1. Thousands of people get affordable meals from his kitchen every month. Gambhir said he pays for all of it from his own pocket and is not ashamed of working despite being a politician.

“Why I commentate in IPL or work in it is because I spend INR 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) every month to feed 5000 people. This translates to roughly 2.75 crore (INR 27.5 million) per year. I've also spent INR 25 lakh to build a library," Gambhir said during the press conference.

“I spend all of this money from my own pocket and not from the MPLAD fund. The MPLAD fund doesn't run my kitchen or other things that I do. I don't have a tree in my house from where I can pluck money either.

Only because I work, am I able to feed those 5000 people or establish that library. I have no shame in saying that I do commentary and work in the IPL. All of this that I do has an ultimate goal,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/speed-cant-help-you-pakistan-pacer-shaheen-afridi-reacts-to-umran-mailks-stunning-pace-in-ipl-2022-484957">'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022</a>

One of the most successful cricketers to have played for India, Gambhir was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams. He served as a mentor for debutants Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 this year and helped the team reach the playoffs in their debut campaign.

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament).

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament). The cricketer-turned-politician is a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from the East Delhi constituency and has been working for the welfare of the people in his constituency by providing them with several facilities. However, Gambhir has often been questioned for juggling between politics and cricket. Despite switching his career to politics and being an acting MP, Gambhir has not entirely stayed away from cricket. He has worked as a commentator and an expert in various tournaments in the past and was Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. During a press conference on BJP's 8 years in power in India, Gambhir was asked about his jobs in cricket despite being an active politician now. The former India cricketer came up with a befitting reply and pointed out how he feeds 5,000 people every month through his NGO in Delhi and has also set up a library worth Rs 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) in his constituency. Also Read: 'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Legendary Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar Gambhir has set up a kitchen in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar where the poor and needy can get meals at the cost of just Rs 1. Thousands of people get affordable meals from his kitchen every month. Gambhir said he pays for all of it from his own pocket and is not ashamed of working despite being a politician. “Why I commentate in IPL or work in it is because I spend INR 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) every month to feed 5000 people. This translates to roughly 2.75 crore (INR 27.5 million) per year. I've also spent INR 25 lakh to build a library," Gambhir said during the press conference. “I spend all of this money from my own pocket and not from the MPLAD fund. The MPLAD fund doesn't run my kitchen or other things that I do. I don't have a tree in my house from where I can pluck money either. Only because I work, am I able to feed those 5000 people or establish that library. I have no shame in saying that I do commentary and work in the IPL. All of this that I do has an ultimate goal,” he added. Also Read: 'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022 One of the most successful cricketers to have played for India, Gambhir was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams. He served as a mentor for debutants Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 this year and helped the team reach the playoffs in their debut campaign.

Gautam Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in IPL 2022, where he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in their first-ever edition. Ahead of the season, all eyes were on the star Indian all-rounder as he was set to mark his return to competitive cricket after a long time and his fitness levels were set to be examined by many.

However, Hardik rose to the occasion and fulfilled the role of a batter, bowler, whereas he did exceedingly well as a first-time captain in IPL. With the bat, Hardik amassed 487 runs -- his best tally in a season -- and claimed eight wickets, with three of them coming in the final, before leading GT to their maiden title. Thus, former Indian stumper Kiron More heaped praise on him and called him a four-dimensional player.

"The best moment for me in IPL 15 was the way Gujarat Titans played cricket. It was outstanding. And especially with Hardik becoming a captain and lifting the trophy, his personal performance was equally brilliant. Going from Mumbai Indians to Gujarat Titans, it’s not that easy to go and lead the new team and straightaway win the championship," More told SG podcast.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

Recalling Hardik’s early days as a cricketer, More, who represented India in 49 Tests and 94 ODIs,&nbsp;claimed, "He wanted to play the sport. Krunal Pandya (his elder brother) had joined my academy, and Hardik used to hang around. He used to keep running behind the nets and catching the ball. That is when I told Krunal to bring him to nets as well, and that’s when I saw hunger in his eyes."

"For me, Hardik was a young kid who wanted to perform all the time. I now believe he is a four-dimensional player now. Earlier, he was a three-dimensional player because he was a bowler, batter, and fielder, but now he is captain as well. So, you feel proud that you have such a talented cricketer on the national side," More added.

Hardik will now shift his focus to the forthcoming India-South Africa T20I series at home. It will also mark his return to the Team India set up after the 2021 T20 World Cup. In Rohit Sharma's absence, KL Rahul will lead the 18-member squad.

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in IPL 2022, where he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in their first-ever edition. Ahead of the season, all eyes were on the star Indian all-rounder as he was set to mark his return to competitive cricket after a long time and his fitness levels were set to be examined by many.

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in IPL 2022, where he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in their first-ever edition. Ahead of the season, all eyes were on the star Indian all-rounder as he was set to mark his return to competitive cricket after a long time and his fitness levels were set to be examined by many. However, Hardik rose to the occasion and fulfilled the role of a batter, bowler, whereas he did exceedingly well as a first-time captain in IPL. With the bat, Hardik amassed 487 runs -- his best tally in a season -- and claimed eight wickets, with three of them coming in the final, before leading GT to their maiden title. Thus, former Indian stumper Kiron More heaped praise on him and called him a four-dimensional player. "The best moment for me in IPL 15 was the way Gujarat Titans played cricket. It was outstanding. And especially with Hardik becoming a captain and lifting the trophy, his personal performance was equally brilliant. Going from Mumbai Indians to Gujarat Titans, it’s not that easy to go and lead the new team and straightaway win the championship," More told SG podcast. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph Recalling Hardik’s early days as a cricketer, More, who represented India in 49 Tests and 94 ODIs, claimed, "He wanted to play the sport. Krunal Pandya (his elder brother) had joined my academy, and Hardik used to hang around. He used to keep running behind the nets and catching the ball. That is when I told Krunal to bring him to nets as well, and that’s when I saw hunger in his eyes." "For me, Hardik was a young kid who wanted to perform all the time. I now believe he is a four-dimensional player now. Earlier, he was a three-dimensional player because he was a bowler, batter, and fielder, but now he is captain as well. So, you feel proud that you have such a talented cricketer on the national side," More added. Hardik will now shift his focus to the forthcoming India-South Africa T20I series at home. It will also mark his return to the Team India set up after the 2021 T20 World Cup. In Rohit Sharma's absence, KL Rahul will lead the 18-member squad.

'He is a four-dimensional player now' - Ex-India stumper lauds Hardik Pandya after his memorable IPL 2022

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards.

Kohli returned with 341 runs in 16 games, at an average of&nbsp;22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.98. The right-hander scored two half-centuries, against eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), but wasn't anywhere near his best in majority of the outings. Even his 53-ball 58 in RCB's first face-off versus GT wasn't very impressive.

Analysing Kohli's season for RCB, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said, "The main points were that the top three batters just failed to perform. If you see Virat Kohli's year, Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli. 16 matches, 341 runs at a strike rate of 115. You might have said it is fine even with 341 runs if the strike rate had been around 140."

"Only two half-centuries, that too against just one side. Other than that, he hasn't scored any runs. He reached 48 once and scored an unbeaten 40-odd in the first match but very ordinary season by his standards and by any standards," he said in a video posted on&nbsp;YouTube.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

Further, Chopra shifted focus on Glenn Maxwell and skipper Faf du Plessis and said, "Glenn Maxwell, on whom you placed a huge bet, 301 runs in 13 matches, it is slightly underperforming but the strike rate is very high, more than 160. He picked up wickets in bowling as well, takes catches as well. But one thing is that if Virat Kohli is not having a gun season, Maxi needs to have an extremely gun season, which didn't happen."

"Faf du Plessis - 468 runs in 16 matches. He has the runs, 468 runs are great but this is a team without a single 500-plus score. You might say Gujarat also do not have that but there were three players above 400 there and their main thing was the bowling," added the cricketer-turned-pundit.

RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot and won the Eliminator, beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before bowing out after defeat to eventual runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards.

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards. Kohli returned with 341 runs in 16 games, at an average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.98. The right-hander scored two half-centuries, against eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), but wasn't anywhere near his best in majority of the outings. Even his 53-ball 58 in RCB's first face-off versus GT wasn't very impressive. Analysing Kohli's season for RCB, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said, "The main points were that the top three batters just failed to perform. If you see Virat Kohli's year, Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli. 16 matches, 341 runs at a strike rate of 115. You might have said it is fine even with 341 runs if the strike rate had been around 140." "Only two half-centuries, that too against just one side. Other than that, he hasn't scored any runs. He reached 48 once and scored an unbeaten 40-odd in the first match but very ordinary season by his standards and by any standards," he said in a video posted on YouTube. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph Further, Chopra shifted focus on Glenn Maxwell and skipper Faf du Plessis and said, "Glenn Maxwell, on whom you placed a huge bet, 301 runs in 13 matches, it is slightly underperforming but the strike rate is very high, more than 160. He picked up wickets in bowling as well, takes catches as well. But one thing is that if Virat Kohli is not having a gun season, Maxi needs to have an extremely gun season, which didn't happen." "Faf du Plessis - 468 runs in 16 matches. He has the runs, 468 runs are great but this is a team without a single 500-plus score. You might say Gujarat also do not have that but there were three players above 400 there and their main thing was the bowling," added the cricketer-turned-pundit. RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot and won the Eliminator, beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before bowing out after defeat to eventual runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra analyses RCB star's ordinary run in IPL 2022

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on May 29 (Sunday) with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their first-ever season. Following the end of the 15th season, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh revealed his 'most shocking moment' of the recently-concluded season.

While the IPL 15 season saw many uncapped players and some debutants make a mark whereas some veteran cricketers also had a good season. On the other hand, some big guns such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Maxwell, etc. didn't have a memorable season. Among the other shocking moments, the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fell flat whereas the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) ended at the bottom.

Thus, Bhajji picked his 'most shocking moment', citing the struggles of Indian opener and Punjab Kings' (PBKS) skipper Mayank Agarwal. For the unversed, Mayank didn't even lead Punjab to the playoffs whereas he had a below-par season with the bat, amassing only 196 runs with a sole half-century at a strike rate of&nbsp;122.50. His indifferent run and 'suffocated' appearance on the field was most shocking for Bhajji.

"Mayank… I think if we talk about Agarwal, I thought to myself 'What has happened to him? He is such a good player. After getting captaincy, I think it put pressure on him. From opening, he went down to No. 4. He kept soaking everything. He looked suffocated. He should have been given freedom. He was under the radar and surely could have been a little better," Harbhajan told SportsKeeda when asked to pick the 'most shocking moment' of IPL 2022.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

Harbhajan later also picked his 'surprise package of the tournament'. "Wanindu Hasaranga became a match-winner after coming here. He was always a good bowler, we knew he was going to do well. But for me, he was the surprise package because the way he foxed the batters, he showed that he has the skills to succeed. It was fun to see him operate," pointed out the veteran cricketer.

Wanindu ended with 26 wickets, one less than the Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal, for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on May 29 (Sunday) with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their first-ever season. Following the end of the 15th season, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh revealed his 'most shocking moment' of the recently-concluded season.

IPL 2022 edition came to a fitting end on May 29 (Sunday) with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their first-ever season. Following the end of the 15th season, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh revealed his 'most shocking moment' of the recently-concluded season. While the IPL 15 season saw many uncapped players and some debutants make a mark whereas some veteran cricketers also had a good season. On the other hand, some big guns such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Maxwell, etc. didn't have a memorable season. Among the other shocking moments, the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fell flat whereas the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) ended at the bottom. Thus, Bhajji picked his 'most shocking moment', citing the struggles of Indian opener and Punjab Kings' (PBKS) skipper Mayank Agarwal. For the unversed, Mayank didn't even lead Punjab to the playoffs whereas he had a below-par season with the bat, amassing only 196 runs with a sole half-century at a strike rate of 122.50. His indifferent run and 'suffocated' appearance on the field was most shocking for Bhajji. "Mayank… I think if we talk about Agarwal, I thought to myself 'What has happened to him? He is such a good player. After getting captaincy, I think it put pressure on him. From opening, he went down to No. 4. He kept soaking everything. He looked suffocated. He should have been given freedom. He was under the radar and surely could have been a little better," Harbhajan told SportsKeeda when asked to pick the 'most shocking moment' of IPL 2022. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph Harbhajan later also picked his 'surprise package of the tournament'. "Wanindu Hasaranga became a match-winner after coming here. He was always a good bowler, we knew he was going to do well. But for me, he was the surprise package because the way he foxed the batters, he showed that he has the skills to succeed. It was fun to see him operate," pointed out the veteran cricketer. Wanindu ended with 26 wickets, one less than the Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal, for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Harbhajan Singh mentions his 'most shocking moment' of IPL 2022, citing star Indian batter's struggles

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four.

Thus, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remain in the fray for the remaining three spots. Here's how each one of them have a chance to make it to the playoffs:

LSG: KL Rahul-led franchise already have one foot in the playoffs with 16 points. They just need a win in their remaining two fixtures but can also progress ahead without a win. Nonetheless, they will have to depend on&nbsp;other franchises' results to remain in their favour.

RR: Sanju Samson &amp; Co. have 14 points, i.e. seven wins from 12 games. A win would be enough for them to enter the playoffs but the one-time winners will be eager to win both games and ensure a top-two finish. In case they lose both, they will have an eye on the NRR of other teams who can end up with 14 points.

RCB:&nbsp;The three-time runners-up have two games in hand and have 14 points under their belt. A win will also do the trick for them but they will also hope to emerge on top in both the remaining fixtures.&nbsp;

DC: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi franchise have 12 points from an equal number of encounters. They need to win both and if a single defeat can lead to their exit.

SRH: The 2016 champions started with two defeats and then won five in a row before derailing their campaign by losing as many as four matches in succession at a crucial time of the league stage. If they win all their remaining three fixtures, they will go through but a single defeat can hurt them.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-mumbai-indians-thrash-chennai-super-kings-by-5-wickets-478464">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Mumbai Indians thrash Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets</a>

KKR:&nbsp;The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR outfit are very much out of the race with only 5 victories in 12 games. Even if they win their remaining matches, they would need to do it handsomely. Also then, they might find&nbsp;two to five teams competing for the last spot at 14 points. Tough!

PBKS:&nbsp;Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab also need to win all their remaining fixtures. They currently have 10 points from 11 games. Even if they emerge on top in all their fixtures, it might boil down to NRR. At present, Punjab have a negative NRR (-0.231).

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four.

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four. Thus, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remain in the fray for the remaining three spots. Here's how each one of them have a chance to make it to the playoffs: LSG: KL Rahul-led franchise already have one foot in the playoffs with 16 points. They just need a win in their remaining two fixtures but can also progress ahead without a win. Nonetheless, they will have to depend on other franchises' results to remain in their favour. RR: Sanju Samson & Co. have 14 points, i.e. seven wins from 12 games. A win would be enough for them to enter the playoffs but the one-time winners will be eager to win both games and ensure a top-two finish. In case they lose both, they will have an eye on the NRR of other teams who can end up with 14 points. RCB: The three-time runners-up have two games in hand and have 14 points under their belt. A win will also do the trick for them but they will also hope to emerge on top in both the remaining fixtures. DC: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi franchise have 12 points from an equal number of encounters. They need to win both and if a single defeat can lead to their exit. SRH: The 2016 champions started with two defeats and then won five in a row before derailing their campaign by losing as many as four matches in succession at a crucial time of the league stage. If they win all their remaining three fixtures, they will go through but a single defeat can hurt them. ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Mumbai Indians thrash Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets KKR: The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR outfit are very much out of the race with only 5 victories in 12 games. Even if they win their remaining matches, they would need to do it handsomely. Also then, they might find two to five teams competing for the last spot at 14 points. Tough! PBKS: Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab also need to win all their remaining fixtures. They currently have 10 points from 11 games. Even if they emerge on top in all their fixtures, it might boil down to NRR. At present, Punjab have a negative NRR (-0.231).

IPL 2022 playoffs qualification scenario: EXPLAINED! Here's how 7 teams remain in fray for 3 spots

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league. The tournament saw a number of youngsters rise to the occasion once again while some of the experienced campaigners continued their impressive run for their respective teams.

Pietersen named Hardik Pandya the captain of his IPL 2022 XI after the star all-rounder led the Titans to their maiden title triumph in style. Hardik led from the front and contributed with both the bat and the ball to help his side dominate the proceedings throughout the season. He scored 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets, including a match-winning performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals.

Pietersen picked Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock as the two openers in his side. Buttler had a fabulous season finishing as the highest run-getter in IPL 2022 with a staggering 863 runs while De Kock too was consistent with the willow and notched up 508 runs in 15 matches. Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, who played as an opener, was picked at no.3 by Pietersen.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-to-lead-india-in-aakash-chopras-t20-wc-squad-based-on-ipl-2022-virat-rohit-some-big-names-dropped-484083">Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit &amp; some big names dropped</a>

"Hit 140* as he and KL Rahul batted the entire 20 overs unbeaten against KKR. That innings, combined with some other solid contributions, means he warrants a place in this team", the former England captain said on Betway explaining the reason behind keeping Rahul at 3.

While there were other popular picks like David Miller and Liam Livingstone in his best XI, Pietersen also had a surprising inclusion in the form of R Ashwin. He snubbed GT spinner Rashid Khan, who picked up 19 wickets at a brilliant economy of 6.59 to keep Ashwin in the side.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-a-special-player-but-kohli-and-rohit-belong-in-a-different-league-says-former-pakistan-captain-484006">KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain</a>

"Averaging over 27 with the bat and taking 12 wickets is a great effort. That all-round output means that this was a fine campaign," said Pietersen on Ashwin's selection. He completed his bowling attack with the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, who was the highest wicket-taker of the season, Umran Malik and Josh Hazlewood.

Kevin Pietersen’s best IPL 2022&nbsp;XI: Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock (WK), KL Rahul, David Miller, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Tewatia, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Josh Hazlewood.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league. The tournament saw a number of youngsters rise to the occasion once again while some of the experienced campaigners continued their impressive run for their respective teams. Pietersen named Hardik Pandya the captain of his IPL 2022 XI after the star all-rounder led the Titans to their maiden title triumph in style. Hardik led from the front and contributed with both the bat and the ball to help his side dominate the proceedings throughout the season. He scored 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets, including a match-winning performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals. Pietersen picked Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock as the two openers in his side. Buttler had a fabulous season finishing as the highest run-getter in IPL 2022 with a staggering 863 runs while De Kock too was consistent with the willow and notched up 508 runs in 15 matches. Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, who played as an opener, was picked at no.3 by Pietersen. Also Read: Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit & some big names dropped "Hit 140* as he and KL Rahul batted the entire 20 overs unbeaten against KKR. That innings, combined with some other solid contributions, means he warrants a place in this team", the former England captain said on Betway explaining the reason behind keeping Rahul at 3. While there were other popular picks like David Miller and Liam Livingstone in his best XI, Pietersen also had a surprising inclusion in the form of R Ashwin. He snubbed GT spinner Rashid Khan, who picked up 19 wickets at a brilliant economy of 6.59 to keep Ashwin in the side. Also Read: KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain "Averaging over 27 with the bat and taking 12 wickets is a great effort. That all-round output means that this was a fine campaign," said Pietersen on Ashwin's selection. He completed his bowling attack with the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, who was the highest wicket-taker of the season, Umran Malik and Josh Hazlewood. Kevin Pietersen’s best IPL 2022 XI: Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock (WK), KL Rahul, David Miller, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Tewatia, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Josh Hazlewood.

No Rashid Khan in Kevin Pietersen's best XI of IPL 2022, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler and KL Rahul feature

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition. He was making a comeback at the competitive level during IPL 2022, after being out of action since the 2021 T20 World Cup, and, hence, all eyes were on him. His fitness has been a major concern, thus, many had their eyes on him and whether he would bowl as well.

Hardik ended IPL 2022 with 487 runs -- his best tally in a season -- eight wickets and also inspired the debutants Gujarat Titans (GT) to their first-ever IPL title. His leadership was exemplary as Hardik was calm and composed for most parts of the field, motivated his troops, made some good bowling changes and didn't get bogged down by additional responsibility. Hence, Hardik's elder brother Krunal Pandya -- who was part of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who lost the Eliminator -- lauded his sibling and penned a heartfelt note on Twitter.

“My bro. Only you know the amount of hard work that’s gone behind this success of yours - early mornings, countless hours of training, discipline and mental strength. And to see you lift the trophy is the fruit of your hard work. You deserve it all and so much more. People had written you off but you keep writing history. Wish I was there when more than a lakh people were cheering your name,”&nbsp;said Krunal in a couple of tweets.

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My bro 🤗 Only you know the amount of hard work that’s gone behind this success of yours - early mornings, countless hours of training, discipline and mental strength. And to see you lift the trophy is the fruits of your hard work ❤️ You deserve it all and so much more 😘😘 <a href="https://t.co/qpLrxmjkZz">pic.twitter.com/qpLrxmjkZz</a>
— Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) <a href="https://twitter.com/krunalpandya24/status/1531663916794712064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-to-lead-india-in-aakash-chopras-t20-wc-squad-based-on-ipl-2022-virat-rohit-some-big-names-dropped-484083">Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit &amp; some big names dropped</a>

Ever since Hardik led Gujarat to their maiden title in their first-ever IPL appearance, his captaincy stocks have risen and many former cricketers and experts feel he can be an ideal candidate to lead India in the shorter formats.

Hardik will next be seen in the India-South Africa T20I series, at home, starting on June 09.

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition. He was making a comeback at the competitive level during IPL 2022, after being out of action since the 2021 T20 World Cup, and, hence, all eyes were on him.

Hardik Pandya made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition. He was making a comeback at the competitive level during IPL 2022, after being out of action since the 2021 T20 World Cup, and, hence, all eyes were on him. His fitness has been a major concern, thus, many had their eyes on him and whether he would bowl as well. Hardik ended IPL 2022 with 487 runs -- his best tally in a season -- eight wickets and also inspired the debutants Gujarat Titans (GT) to their first-ever IPL title. His leadership was exemplary as Hardik was calm and composed for most parts of the field, motivated his troops, made some good bowling changes and didn't get bogged down by additional responsibility. Hence, Hardik's elder brother Krunal Pandya -- who was part of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who lost the Eliminator -- lauded his sibling and penned a heartfelt note on Twitter. “My bro. Only you know the amount of hard work that’s gone behind this success of yours - early mornings, countless hours of training, discipline and mental strength. And to see you lift the trophy is the fruit of your hard work. You deserve it all and so much more. People had written you off but you keep writing history. Wish I was there when more than a lakh people were cheering your name,” said Krunal in a couple of tweets. My bro 🤗 Only you know the amount of hard work that’s gone behind this success of yours - early mornings, countless hours of training, discipline and mental strength. And to see you lift the trophy is the fruits of your hard work ❤️ You deserve it all and so much more 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/qpLrxmjkZz — Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) May 31, 2022 × ALSO READ | Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit & some big names dropped Ever since Hardik led Gujarat to their maiden title in their first-ever IPL appearance, his captaincy stocks have risen and many former cricketers and experts feel he can be an ideal candidate to lead India in the shorter formats. Hardik will next be seen in the India-South Africa T20I series, at home, starting on June 09.

'People had written you off but....': Krunal pens heartfelt note for brother Hardik after Gujarat win IPL 2022

The recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 featured quite a number of young talents who impressed experts and fans alike with their performances. From the express pace of Umran Malik to the batting of Tilak Varma, the tournament saw domestic talents proving their mettle on the grand stage. However, when former England captain Michael Vaughan was asked to choose the ‘young player of the season’ according to him, he had a surprising pick – Kuldeep Sen of Rajasthan Royals. The 25-year-old fast bowler featured for a handful of matches for his franchise, but his pace and precision were enough to make him a topic of discussion in the cricketing community.

It has been quite a journey for the boy from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. Coming from a poor family with his father owning a small barber shop, Kuldeep never had much support when it comes to playing cricket. The low income and four other siblings meant that there was no money for Kuldeep to buy a proper cricket kit and that is where he was helped by his childhood coach Aril Anthony.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-a-special-player-but-kohli-and-rohit-belong-in-a-different-league-says-former-pakistan-captain-484006" hreflang="en">Rahul a special player but not in the same league as Kohli, Rohit: Latif</a>

Anthony was convinced by the pace displayed by a young Kuldeep and after hearing his financial situation, he waived off his training fees and took care of her diet and even got him a proper kit.

“When he first came to us, he had a good height, and he was able to bowl fast. It is difficult to understand someone’s strength at the age of around 12-13 years and as a result, we asked him to concentrate more on his bowling”, the former Madhya Pradesh U-19 fast bowler told WION.

While the pace was always there, Kuldeep’s game was not without his flaws. He ended up chucking the ball while looking to exert himself and it was ultimately rectified by a smart plan from Anthony.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-hardik-pandya-to-ravindra-jadeja-how-new-captains-fared-in-ipl-2022-483927" hreflang="en">From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022?</a>

“He was fond of bowling bouncers, but he ended up chucking sometimes. I did not allow him to go to any trials because of that reason and we kept working on his action till it got better,” he said.

With a better action and solid local pedigree, Kuldeep made his Ranji Trophy debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2018. It was a great season for him as he ended up taking 25 wickets in 8 matches and since then, he has featured quite regularly on the domestic circuit. However, IPL was still a distant dream and that was finally achieved in 2022 as RR picked him up for the base price of Rs 2 million.

The debut was everything that the young fast bowler could have hoped for and more. He started proceedings with a 146.3 kmph screamer to Lucknow opener Quinton de Kock and with 15 runs to defend in the final over, he was entrusted with the duty to clinch the game for his side. He kept his calm and against a seasoned veteran like Marcus Stoinis, he was able to guide his team to victory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-was-swinging-the-ball-at-145-kph-harbhajan-lauds-indias-pacer-after-his-splendid-run-in-ipl-2022-483900" hreflang="en">'He was swinging the ball at 145 kph' - Harbhajan lauds India's pacer after his splendid run in IPL 2022</a>

The 25-year-old went on to play six more matches for Rajasthan Royals this year and ended up taking eight wickets in total including a four-wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, according to Anthony, it was the association with legendary cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga that is the biggest takeaway for Kuldeep from this IPL season.

“I am constantly in touch with him and we discuss his game. But I did not speak to him during the pre-season at all. He is surrounded by legends and he needs to learn from them right now.”

With the IPL gone, a long road lies ahead for Kuldeep Sen. The domestic season will&nbsp;once again be a great proving ground for the youngster and for a fast bowler whose Instagram handle is ‘150kuldeep’, the goal seems quite well thought out – both in the short as well as the long term.

The recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 featured quite a number of young talents who impressed experts and fans alike with their performances. From the express pace of Umran Malik to the batting of Tilak Varma, the tournament saw domestic talents proving their mettle on the grand stage.

The recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 featured quite a number of young talents who impressed experts and fans alike with their performances. From the express pace of Umran Malik to the batting of Tilak Varma, the tournament saw domestic talents proving their mettle on the grand stage. However, when former England captain Michael Vaughan was asked to choose the ‘young player of the season’ according to him, he had a surprising pick – Kuldeep Sen of Rajasthan Royals. The 25-year-old fast bowler featured for a handful of matches for his franchise, but his pace and precision were enough to make him a topic of discussion in the cricketing community. It has been quite a journey for the boy from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. Coming from a poor family with his father owning a small barber shop, Kuldeep never had much support when it comes to playing cricket. The low income and four other siblings meant that there was no money for Kuldeep to buy a proper cricket kit and that is where he was helped by his childhood coach Aril Anthony. Also read | Rahul a special player but not in the same league as Kohli, Rohit: Latif Anthony was convinced by the pace displayed by a young Kuldeep and after hearing his financial situation, he waived off his training fees and took care of her diet and even got him a proper kit. “When he first came to us, he had a good height, and he was able to bowl fast. It is difficult to understand someone’s strength at the age of around 12-13 years and as a result, we asked him to concentrate more on his bowling”, the former Madhya Pradesh U-19 fast bowler told WION. While the pace was always there, Kuldeep’s game was not without his flaws. He ended up chucking the ball while looking to exert himself and it was ultimately rectified by a smart plan from Anthony. Also read | From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022? “He was fond of bowling bouncers, but he ended up chucking sometimes. I did not allow him to go to any trials because of that reason and we kept working on his action till it got better,” he said. With a better action and solid local pedigree, Kuldeep made his Ranji Trophy debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2018. It was a great season for him as he ended up taking 25 wickets in 8 matches and since then, he has featured quite regularly on the domestic circuit. However, IPL was still a distant dream and that was finally achieved in 2022 as RR picked him up for the base price of Rs 2 million. The debut was everything that the young fast bowler could have hoped for and more. He started proceedings with a 146.3 kmph screamer to Lucknow opener Quinton de Kock and with 15 runs to defend in the final over, he was entrusted with the duty to clinch the game for his side. He kept his calm and against a seasoned veteran like Marcus Stoinis, he was able to guide his team to victory. Also read | 'He was swinging the ball at 145 kph' - Harbhajan lauds India's pacer after his splendid run in IPL 2022 The 25-year-old went on to play six more matches for Rajasthan Royals this year and ended up taking eight wickets in total including a four-wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, according to Anthony, it was the association with legendary cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga that is the biggest takeaway for Kuldeep from this IPL season. “I am constantly in touch with him and we discuss his game. But I did not speak to him during the pre-season at all. He is surrounded by legends and he needs to learn from them right now.” With the IPL gone, a long road lies ahead for Kuldeep Sen. The domestic season will once again be a great proving ground for the youngster and for a fast bowler whose Instagram handle is ‘150kuldeep’, the goal seems quite well thought out – both in the short as well as the long term.

Kuldeep Sen - From a small village in Madhya Pradesh to IPL stardom with Rajasthan Royals

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded with a fitting final between two of the most deserving sides of the season. Gujarat Titans (GT) got the better of Rajasthan Royals (RR) to cap off an incredible debut season by lifting their maiden IPL trophy. It was a fairytale run for the Titans, who had saved their best for the last and came up with a clinical performance in the final to clinch the elusive trophy for the first time.

Hardik Pandya received the prestigious trophy after a magnificent tournament for the Titans. The star all-rounder was leading a team for the first time in his IPL career and showcased exceptional leadership qualities to prove why he can be one of the strong contenders for Team India's captaincy going forward.

It was a memorable season for Hardik and his men, who proved the naysayers wrong with some terrific cricket throughout the tournament. Debunking the myth that the trophy is won at the auction table, Gujarat Titans, who not many had given a chance after the mega auction earlier this year, got the best out of their players and had to wait for lesser than many for their first title.

While Hardik had a phenomenal debut campaign as captain of the Gujarat Titans, not all new captains managed to impress with their leadership in IPL 2022. There were a total of four new captains, who were leading a side for the first time in their IPL careers this year and all four had contrasting journeys.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

While Hardik was roped in as their captain by the Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore replaced the mighty Virat Kohli with a cool and calm head in Faf du Plessis. Mayank Agarwal took over the reins at Punjab Kings after KL Rahul's departure and it was Ravindra Jadeja, who was in charge of the Chennai Super Kings after MS Dhoni pulled off yet another surprise to step down from captaincy ahead of the season only to make a comeback later.

Here is a look at how the four new captains fared in IPL 2022:

Hardik Pandya

<img alt="hardik" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="db12b038-a106-4ddd-9117-75148a0a2a34" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/hardik%20ipl%20tro.png" />

The most impressive of the lot was unarguable Hardik Pandya, who proved many wrong with display some brilliant leadership qualities throughout the season. After being released by Mumbai Indians, Hardik was appointed as captain by debutants Gujarat Titans, with many questioning the decision to hand over the reins to the star all-rounder, who had dealt with injury issues over the past couple of years and had not contributed much with the ball either.

Hardik led from the front as the season began and promoted himself up the order to take more responsibility with the bat. While he didn't bowl regularly, he always stepped up when his team needed him with the ball and picked up wickets at crucial junctures. Besides being an inspiring leader, he always let his game do the talking on the pitch.

Hardik finished as the highest run-getter for the Titans with 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets. He delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals to power his side to their maiden title with 3 wickets and 34 runs. Hardik became only the third captain in IPL history to bag the Man of the Match award in an IPL final.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-ms-dhoni-and-virat-kohli-among-least-valuable-players-for-their-franchise-in-ipl-2022-report-483712">Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli among least valuable players for their franchises in IPL 2022 - Report</a>

Ravindra Jadeja

<img alt="jadeja" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b7b23850-6b71-437c-bcf2-d54c39abec60" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Jadeja%20CSK.png" />

Expectations were not too high from Ravindra Jadeja after he surprisingly took over from MS Dhoni as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2022. While there were indications that CSK might groom a successor for Dhoni under him this season, not many had expected the legendary wicket-keeper batter to give up captaincy and not lead the team at all this season.

As it turned out, Dhoni managed to spring a surprise once again for his fans by handing over the charge to Jadeja. CSK got off to a torrid start and were expected to bounce back but they ended up losing their first four games in a row before bagging their first win against RCB in their fifth game of the season.

Jadeja looked far from a leader on the field and was finding it difficult to marshal his troops initially. His bowling changes were being found out and the absence of key players due to injuries was not helping his cause. The pressure got the better of the formidable all-rounder taking a toll on his personal game.

He was failing to deliver with the bat and wickets too had dried up. If that was not enough, Jadeja also made costly errors on the field. Before it could have gotten worse, Jadeja decided to step down and hand back the reins to Dhoni after six losses and just two wins in their first eight matches. Safe to say, it was far from a perfect captaincy stint for Jadeja and was a short-lived one which ended with just a couple of wins in 8 games.

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>

Mayank Agarwal&nbsp;

<img alt="mayank" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c7976fe2-772f-48e7-9122-b8f3f92595eb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mayank%20ipl.png" />

Punjab Kings found themselves without a leader of the pack yet again ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise. Punjab Kings had invested in Rahul back in 2018 with an aim to groom their future leader in him but his exit left the franchise seeking a captain once again in the mega auction.

While they bought some experienced campaigners in Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow, Punjab Kings showed their faith in Mayank Agarwal for the leadership role. Mayank had been part of the franchise for a while now and had also got significant experience at the international and domestic levels.

However, he couldn't impress much in his debut stint as captain and had an average run with the franchise. Punjab Kings remained inconsistent throughout the tournament and failed to win two matches on the trot even once. They came close but failed to qualify for the playoffs with 14 points from 14 games.

Their approach with the bat was lauded by many as they played some aggressive cricket and showed the right intent but their bowlers failed to compliment the batters at times in what was yet another season of ups and downs for the Anil Kumble-coached side.

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>

Faf du Plessis

<img alt="faf" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee91e764-63dc-4e4c-85fa-f030390129c7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Faf%20IPL.png" />

There was immense excitement surrounding Faf du Plessis' appointment as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the start of the season. Du Plessis had replaced Virat Kohli, a bonafide superstar who had led the team to back-to-back playoffs in the last two seasons but failed to get them over the line.

With Du Plessis' arrival, it seemed RCB might go on to crack&nbsp;the IPL-winning code in the 2022 season and it did see to unfold as the season began. RCB were a much better unit under the former CSK man, who had been part of several IPL-winning squads with the Yellow Army.

Du Plessis had the pedigree of a leader who could inspire RCB to their maiden IPL title and he did take them to the playoffs for the third season in a row. However, the team faltered again on the big stage and was knocked out of the playoffs.

However, there were a lot of positives from RCB's campaign as they saw the rise of some of the youngsters like Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror while the likes of Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga dazzled with the ball. A lot of the current players in RCB will only get better in the years to come and they might go on to achieve something special if they continue working hard.

&nbsp;

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded with a fitting final between two of the most deserving sides of the season. Gujarat Titans (GT) got the better of Rajasthan Royals (RR) to cap off an incredible debut season by lifting their maiden IPL trophy.

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded with a fitting final between two of the most deserving sides of the season. Gujarat Titans (GT) got the better of Rajasthan Royals (RR) to cap off an incredible debut season by lifting their maiden IPL trophy. It was a fairytale run for the Titans, who had saved their best for the last and came up with a clinical performance in the final to clinch the elusive trophy for the first time. Hardik Pandya received the prestigious trophy after a magnificent tournament for the Titans. The star all-rounder was leading a team for the first time in his IPL career and showcased exceptional leadership qualities to prove why he can be one of the strong contenders for Team India's captaincy going forward. It was a memorable season for Hardik and his men, who proved the naysayers wrong with some terrific cricket throughout the tournament. Debunking the myth that the trophy is won at the auction table, Gujarat Titans, who not many had given a chance after the mega auction earlier this year, got the best out of their players and had to wait for lesser than many for their first title. While Hardik had a phenomenal debut campaign as captain of the Gujarat Titans, not all new captains managed to impress with their leadership in IPL 2022. There were a total of four new captains, who were leading a side for the first time in their IPL careers this year and all four had contrasting journeys. Also Read: IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph While Hardik was roped in as their captain by the Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore replaced the mighty Virat Kohli with a cool and calm head in Faf du Plessis. Mayank Agarwal took over the reins at Punjab Kings after KL Rahul's departure and it was Ravindra Jadeja, who was in charge of the Chennai Super Kings after MS Dhoni pulled off yet another surprise to step down from captaincy ahead of the season only to make a comeback later. Here is a look at how the four new captains fared in IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya The most impressive of the lot was unarguable Hardik Pandya, who proved many wrong with display some brilliant leadership qualities throughout the season. After being released by Mumbai Indians, Hardik was appointed as captain by debutants Gujarat Titans, with many questioning the decision to hand over the reins to the star all-rounder, who had dealt with injury issues over the past couple of years and had not contributed much with the ball either. Hardik led from the front as the season began and promoted himself up the order to take more responsibility with the bat. While he didn't bowl regularly, he always stepped up when his team needed him with the ball and picked up wickets at crucial junctures. Besides being an inspiring leader, he always let his game do the talking on the pitch. Hardik finished as the highest run-getter for the Titans with 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets. He delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals to power his side to their maiden title with 3 wickets and 34 runs. Hardik became only the third captain in IPL history to bag the Man of the Match award in an IPL final. Also Read: Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli among least valuable players for their franchises in IPL 2022 - Report Ravindra Jadeja Expectations were not too high from Ravindra Jadeja after he surprisingly took over from MS Dhoni as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2022. While there were indications that CSK might groom a successor for Dhoni under him this season, not many had expected the legendary wicket-keeper batter to give up captaincy and not lead the team at all this season. As it turned out, Dhoni managed to spring a surprise once again for his fans by handing over the charge to Jadeja. CSK got off to a torrid start and were expected to bounce back but they ended up losing their first four games in a row before bagging their first win against RCB in their fifth game of the season. Jadeja looked far from a leader on the field and was finding it difficult to marshal his troops initially. His bowling changes were being found out and the absence of key players due to injuries was not helping his cause. The pressure got the better of the formidable all-rounder taking a toll on his personal game. He was failing to deliver with the bat and wickets too had dried up. If that was not enough, Jadeja also made costly errors on the field. Before it could have gotten worse, Jadeja decided to step down and hand back the reins to Dhoni after six losses and just two wins in their first eight matches. Safe to say, it was far from a perfect captaincy stint for Jadeja and was a short-lived one which ended with just a couple of wins in 8 games. Also Read: No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain Mayank Agarwal Punjab Kings found themselves without a leader of the pack yet again ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise. Punjab Kings had invested in Rahul back in 2018 with an aim to groom their future leader in him but his exit left the franchise seeking a captain once again in the mega auction. While they bought some experienced campaigners in Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow, Punjab Kings showed their faith in Mayank Agarwal for the leadership role. Mayank had been part of the franchise for a while now and had also got significant experience at the international and domestic levels. However, he couldn't impress much in his debut stint as captain and had an average run with the franchise. Punjab Kings remained inconsistent throughout the tournament and failed to win two matches on the trot even once. They came close but failed to qualify for the playoffs with 14 points from 14 games. Their approach with the bat was lauded by many as they played some aggressive cricket and showed the right intent but their bowlers failed to compliment the batters at times in what was yet another season of ups and downs for the Anil Kumble-coached side. Also Read: Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Faf du Plessis There was immense excitement surrounding Faf du Plessis' appointment as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the start of the season. Du Plessis had replaced Virat Kohli, a bonafide superstar who had led the team to back-to-back playoffs in the last two seasons but failed to get them over the line. With Du Plessis' arrival, it seemed RCB might go on to crack the IPL-winning code in the 2022 season and it did see to unfold as the season began. RCB were a much better unit under the former CSK man, who had been part of several IPL-winning squads with the Yellow Army. Du Plessis had the pedigree of a leader who could inspire RCB to their maiden IPL title and he did take them to the playoffs for the third season in a row. However, the team faltered again on the big stage and was knocked out of the playoffs. However, there were a lot of positives from RCB's campaign as they saw the rise of some of the youngsters like Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror while the likes of Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga dazzled with the ball. A lot of the current players in RCB will only get better in the years to come and they might go on to achieve something special if they continue working hard.

From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022?

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament. While the likes of Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan turned out to be the finds of the tournament, several other young guns like Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Ayush Badoni also impressed with their talent and skills. Some of the youngsters turned out to be the most valuable players of the season considering their low buying price and brilliant show on the field.

While the youngsters rose to the occasion yet again, a number of superstars failed to deliver in the recently-concluded season. It was a forgetful season for the 'Big 3' - MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Dhoni still managed to dazzle with the bat in patches despite being past his prime at 40, a lot was expected from Kohli and Rohit, who struggled to deliver throughout the season.

As per an analysis by the Times of India, Rohit, Dhoni and Kohli were among the least value money buys in IPL 2022. In a report, TOI analysed players' data and statistics based on their performance and the price they were bought for by their respective teams in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. The players were given points per million INR spent on them and were rated accordingly.

Punjab Kings' wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma turned out to be the most valuable player with 241.8 points. He was bought for a sum of just Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) and scored 234 runs for his franchise at a strike rate of 163.63. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan finished at the second spot for his 14 wickets in 9 games at a stunning economy of 5.96. Mohsin was bought by LSG for Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million)

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-whopping-cash-prize-for-unsung-heroes-groundsmen-and-curators-for-ipl-2022s-success-483573">BCCI announces whopping cash prize for 'unsung heroes' groundsmen &amp; curators after IPL 2022's success</a>

On the other hand, Kohli, who struggled to get going with the willow throughout the season, was placed at the 157th spot in the overall rankings having managed only 2.6 points per million. The RCB star scored 341 runs in 16 matches and failed to power his team to the final. Dhoni finished at the 161st spot with 232 runs in 14 games while Rohit managed to earn only 1 point per million and got the 178th spot.

Most valuable players in IPL 2022 based on their price:

Rank&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Player&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Team&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Price (INR)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Points per mn (INR) 
1&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Jitesh Sharma&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; PBKS&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;20 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;241.8 
2&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mohsin Khan&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;LSG&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 21 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;234.2 
3&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rajat Pat dar&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RCB&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;208.4 
4&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mukesh Choudhary&nbsp; CSK&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 23 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 198.8 
5&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ayush Badoni&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; LSG&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;24 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 154.3 
6&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;J Suchith&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;SRH&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;25 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 106.8 
7&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ramandeep Singh&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;26 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 104.8 
8&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kuldeep 5en&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RR&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;27 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 103.5 
9&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;B Sai Sudharsan&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;GT&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 28 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 73.3 
10&nbsp;&nbsp; K Kartikeya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 29 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 67.5

157&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Virat Kohli&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RCB&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;15 crore&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2.6 
161&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;MSDhoni&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CSK&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12 crore&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2.5 
178&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rohit Shanna&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16 crore&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1.0

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/surpassing-dhoni-to-joining-rohit-in-elite-list-list-of-records-created-by-hardik-pandya-in-gts-ipl-triumph-483518">Surpassing Dhoni to joining Rohit in elite list: List of records created by Hardik Pandya in GT's IPL triumph</a>

Mumbai Indians had spent a whoopping Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) to retain Rohit as their first-choice player ahead of the season while Kohli and Dhoni were retained for a sum of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) and Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) respectively.

Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, two of the most successfull teams in IPL history, endured a horrific campaign this season as they failed to make it to the playoffs. CSK and MI finished at the bottom of the table while RCB managed to reach the playoffs but failed to go all the way.

&nbsp;

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament.

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament. While the likes of Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan turned out to be the finds of the tournament, several other young guns like Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Ayush Badoni also impressed with their talent and skills. Some of the youngsters turned out to be the most valuable players of the season considering their low buying price and brilliant show on the field. While the youngsters rose to the occasion yet again, a number of superstars failed to deliver in the recently-concluded season. It was a forgetful season for the 'Big 3' - MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Dhoni still managed to dazzle with the bat in patches despite being past his prime at 40, a lot was expected from Kohli and Rohit, who struggled to deliver throughout the season. As per an analysis by the Times of India, Rohit, Dhoni and Kohli were among the least value money buys in IPL 2022. In a report, TOI analysed players' data and statistics based on their performance and the price they were bought for by their respective teams in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. The players were given points per million INR spent on them and were rated accordingly. Punjab Kings' wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma turned out to be the most valuable player with 241.8 points. He was bought for a sum of just Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) and scored 234 runs for his franchise at a strike rate of 163.63. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan finished at the second spot for his 14 wickets in 9 games at a stunning economy of 5.96. Mohsin was bought by LSG for Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) Also Read: BCCI announces whopping cash prize for 'unsung heroes' groundsmen & curators after IPL 2022's success On the other hand, Kohli, who struggled to get going with the willow throughout the season, was placed at the 157th spot in the overall rankings having managed only 2.6 points per million. The RCB star scored 341 runs in 16 matches and failed to power his team to the final. Dhoni finished at the 161st spot with 232 runs in 14 games while Rohit managed to earn only 1 point per million and got the 178th spot. Most valuable players in IPL 2022 based on their price: Rank Player Team Price (INR) Points per mn (INR) 1 Jitesh Sharma PBKS 20 lakh 241.8 2 Mohsin Khan LSG 21 lakh 234.2 3 Rajat Pat dar RCB 22 lakh 208.4 4 Mukesh Choudhary CSK 23 lakh 198.8 5 Ayush Badoni LSG 24 lakh 154.3 6 J Suchith SRH 25 lakh 106.8 7 Ramandeep Singh Ml 26 lakh 104.8 8 Kuldeep 5en RR 27 lakh 103.5 9 B Sai Sudharsan GT 28 lakh 73.3 10 K Kartikeya Ml 29 lakh 67.5 157 Virat Kohli RCB 15 crore 2.6 161 MSDhoni CSK 12 crore 2.5 178 Rohit Shanna Ml 16 crore 1.0 Also Read: Surpassing Dhoni to joining Rohit in elite list: List of records created by Hardik Pandya in GT's IPL triumph Mumbai Indians had spent a whoopping Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) to retain Rohit as their first-choice player ahead of the season while Kohli and Dhoni were retained for a sum of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) and Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) respectively. Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, two of the most successfull teams in IPL history, endured a horrific campaign this season as they failed to make it to the playoffs. CSK and MI finished at the bottom of the table while RCB managed to reach the playoffs but failed to go all the way.

Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli among least valuable players for their franchises in IPL 2022 - Report

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has heaped praise on Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) new find Umran Malik. Malik, the son of a fruit vendor from Kashmir, has made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition. The 22-year-old Indian pacer had a sensational season, where he clocked 150kph on a regular basis and also returned with as many as 22 wickets at an&nbsp;average of 20.18 in 14 games.

Lee not only praised Umran for his raw pace, the ex-Aussie pacer compared the youngster to Pakistan's legendary speedster Waqar Younis. For the unversed, Younis churned out 373 and 416&nbsp;wickets in Tests and ODIs, respectively,&nbsp;in his illustrious career.

"I am a big fan. I think Umran Malik has got a lot of pace to burn. He is a competitor, a top guy, who runs in like a lot of fast bowlers in the past. Waqar Younis is the person who comes to mind," Brett Lee told ANI.

Umran did leak runs in several games, however, he improved his line and lengths despite losing pace. Thus, he won the 'fastest delivery of the match' award in every game for the SRH (14 straight times). Thus, he will be eager to live upto high expectations and soon debut for India across formats.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

Lee also opined on Virat Kohli's barren run in IPL 2022, where he ended with 341 runs at a strike rate of 115.98 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). "I am a massive Kohli fan like a lot of people in the world. I just hope that he really gets his opportunity. He just needs some time out. Spend some time with his family, get reset and hopefully, we can see him scoring some hundreds," said Lee about the former India and RCB captain.

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has heaped praise on Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) new find Umran Malik. Malik, the son of a fruit vendor from Kashmir, has made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition.

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has heaped praise on Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) new find Umran Malik. Malik, the son of a fruit vendor from Kashmir, has made heads turn in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 edition. The 22-year-old Indian pacer had a sensational season, where he clocked 150kph on a regular basis and also returned with as many as 22 wickets at an average of 20.18 in 14 games. Lee not only praised Umran for his raw pace, the ex-Aussie pacer compared the youngster to Pakistan's legendary speedster Waqar Younis. For the unversed, Younis churned out 373 and 416 wickets in Tests and ODIs, respectively, in his illustrious career. "I am a big fan. I think Umran Malik has got a lot of pace to burn. He is a competitor, a top guy, who runs in like a lot of fast bowlers in the past. Waqar Younis is the person who comes to mind," Brett Lee told ANI. Umran did leak runs in several games, however, he improved his line and lengths despite losing pace. Thus, he won the 'fastest delivery of the match' award in every game for the SRH (14 straight times). Thus, he will be eager to live upto high expectations and soon debut for India across formats. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph Lee also opined on Virat Kohli's barren run in IPL 2022, where he ended with 341 runs at a strike rate of 115.98 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). "I am a massive Kohli fan like a lot of people in the world. I just hope that he really gets his opportunity. He just needs some time out. Spend some time with his family, get reset and hopefully, we can see him scoring some hundreds," said Lee about the former India and RCB captain.

Brett Lee lavishes huge praise on Umran Malik, compares SRH's ‘top guy' to legendary Pakistan pacer

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises.

Among the veteran Indian players, the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav were successful for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), respectively. While DK amassed 330 runs at 183.33, Umesh returned with 16 scalps for the two-time champions. Thus, former Indian off-spinner -- who was mighty impressed with the Indian speedsters -- lavished huge praise on Umesh for a fantastic run in IPL 15.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

"Umesh Yadav has made a splendid comeback. Some players really benefit from being in the right team and with Umesh, it's like he enjoyed playing for KKR. This team gave him that confidence. This was the Umesh Yadav we knew of. He was swinging the ball at 145 kph just like the old days," Harbhajan said on SportsKeeda.

Bhajji further pointed out, "I am very impressed with the crop of Indian fast bowlers that are coming up through the ranks. Talk of Umran, Prasidh, Mohsin and so many more. They are all so good. Earlier, it was never like this. We used to have a stock of spinners and now there are so many fast bowlers which is a great thing, something we never witnessed before. In the past, we saw Australia, England, Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers and now it’s India's turn."

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>

Not just Umesh, the likes of young pacers Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Avesh and Mohsin Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, etc. also made a huge impression in the recently-concluded 15th season of the IPL.&nbsp;

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises.

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises. Among the veteran Indian players, the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav were successful for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), respectively. While DK amassed 330 runs at 183.33, Umesh returned with 16 scalps for the two-time champions. Thus, former Indian off-spinner -- who was mighty impressed with the Indian speedsters -- lavished huge praise on Umesh for a fantastic run in IPL 15. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph "Umesh Yadav has made a splendid comeback. Some players really benefit from being in the right team and with Umesh, it's like he enjoyed playing for KKR. This team gave him that confidence. This was the Umesh Yadav we knew of. He was swinging the ball at 145 kph just like the old days," Harbhajan said on SportsKeeda. Bhajji further pointed out, "I am very impressed with the crop of Indian fast bowlers that are coming up through the ranks. Talk of Umran, Prasidh, Mohsin and so many more. They are all so good. Earlier, it was never like this. We used to have a stock of spinners and now there are so many fast bowlers which is a great thing, something we never witnessed before. In the past, we saw Australia, England, Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers and now it’s India's turn." ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Not just Umesh, the likes of young pacers Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Avesh and Mohsin Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, etc. also made a huge impression in the recently-concluded 15th season of the IPL.

'He was swinging the ball at 145 kph' - Harbhajan lauds India's pacer after his splendid run in IPL 2022

IPL 2022 got over on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the summit clash, by seven wickets, to win their maiden title in their first-ever season. With this, the third-longest IPL season came to an end as cricket fans loved every bit of it, spanning over two months.&nbsp;

While Hardik's Gujarat defied all odds by winning the season with ease, many experienced performers fell flat whereas some veterans did exceedingly well along with some uncapped players. As the likes of Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, Liam Livingstone, Md Shami, Avesh Khan, Hardik, Shimron Hetmyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aiden Markram, David Miller, David Warner did very well, big guns such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Glenn Maxwell fell flat and couldn't do much.&nbsp;

Amid all this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra shared his IPL 2022 XI, featuring some big names.&nbsp;His list, however,&nbsp;didn't have&nbsp;Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Dinesh Karthik (330 runs at 183.33), Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) pacer Umran Malik (22 scalps), Lucknow's Mohsin Khan (14 victims),&nbsp;Gujarat's vice-captain and all-rounder Rashid Khan (19 wickets and effective cameos with the bat) and some other impressive performers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

On his Youtube channel, Chopra said, "Along with him (Buttler), I have kept KL Rahul. I thought about Quinton de Kock and Shubman Gill but KL Rahul - more than 600 runs, two centuries. Once again eat, sleep and score 600 runs in the IPL. Form is temporary, KL Rahul is permanent."&nbsp;

Chopra further opined, "I had done a poll for No. 3 - Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi. I have picked Rahul Tripathi, about 80% have also voted for Rahul Tripathi. After that, my Player of the Tournament, his name is Hardik Pandya - he is a captain, bowler and batter. He is the captain of this team as well." He asserted, "At No. 5, I have got Liam Livingstone. He is a six-hitting machine and has done amazingly well this year. At No. 6, some thinking was required on who could be kept - DK (Dinesh Karthik) could have been there but I have actually gone with David Miller because he has had a season that is one to remember." He also slotted another all-rounder by picking Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Andre Russell -- with 335 runs and 17 scalps.

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>

Chopra&nbsp;added, "In my four bowlers, there is one spinner, his name is Yuzi Chahal. He is the Purple Cap holder. Rashid Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga could have also been there here but my four overseas slots are over."

"Avesh Khan is in my side. I was thinking about Mohsin Khan, Umran Malik and Prasidh Krishna but I am still going with Avesh Khan - fewer bad days. After that, I have gone with Mohammed Shami, he was unbelievable. Last but not the least, at No. 11 is Arshdeep Singh. In my opinion, he has been the standout bowler once again."

Aakash Chopra's IPL 2022 XI: Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya (c), Liam Livingstone, David Miller, Andre Russell, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

IPL 2022 got over on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the summit clash, by seven wickets, to win their maiden title in their first-ever season.

IPL 2022 got over on Sunday evening (May 29) when the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the summit clash, by seven wickets, to win their maiden title in their first-ever season. With this, the third-longest IPL season came to an end as cricket fans loved every bit of it, spanning over two months. While Hardik's Gujarat defied all odds by winning the season with ease, many experienced performers fell flat whereas some veterans did exceedingly well along with some uncapped players. As the likes of Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, Liam Livingstone, Md Shami, Avesh Khan, Hardik, Shimron Hetmyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aiden Markram, David Miller, David Warner did very well, big guns such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Glenn Maxwell fell flat and couldn't do much. Amid all this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra shared his IPL 2022 XI, featuring some big names. His list, however, didn't have Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Dinesh Karthik (330 runs at 183.33), Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) pacer Umran Malik (22 scalps), Lucknow's Mohsin Khan (14 victims), Gujarat's vice-captain and all-rounder Rashid Khan (19 wickets and effective cameos with the bat) and some other impressive performers. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph On his Youtube channel, Chopra said, "Along with him (Buttler), I have kept KL Rahul. I thought about Quinton de Kock and Shubman Gill but KL Rahul - more than 600 runs, two centuries. Once again eat, sleep and score 600 runs in the IPL. Form is temporary, KL Rahul is permanent." Chopra further opined, "I had done a poll for No. 3 - Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi. I have picked Rahul Tripathi, about 80% have also voted for Rahul Tripathi. After that, my Player of the Tournament, his name is Hardik Pandya - he is a captain, bowler and batter. He is the captain of this team as well." He asserted, "At No. 5, I have got Liam Livingstone. He is a six-hitting machine and has done amazingly well this year. At No. 6, some thinking was required on who could be kept - DK (Dinesh Karthik) could have been there but I have actually gone with David Miller because he has had a season that is one to remember." He also slotted another all-rounder by picking Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Andre Russell -- with 335 runs and 17 scalps. ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Chopra added, "In my four bowlers, there is one spinner, his name is Yuzi Chahal. He is the Purple Cap holder. Rashid Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga could have also been there here but my four overseas slots are over." "Avesh Khan is in my side. I was thinking about Mohsin Khan, Umran Malik and Prasidh Krishna but I am still going with Avesh Khan - fewer bad days. After that, I have gone with Mohammed Shami, he was unbelievable. Last but not the least, at No. 11 is Arshdeep Singh. In my opinion, he has been the standout bowler once again." Aakash Chopra's IPL 2022 XI: Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya (c), Liam Livingstone, David Miller, Andre Russell, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

Hardik Pandya captains Aakash Chopra's IPL 2022 XI, no place for DK, Rashid Khan and Umran Malik

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

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended. While it was a great season for the franchise under new skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB superstar Virat Kohli had a forgetful campaign. Kohli struggled for consistency throughout the season and failed to fire with the bat.

A lot was expected from Kohli in IPL 2022 after he gave up captaincy last year and was playing only as a batter this season. He was expected to bat freely and pile on runs for his team but that was not the case as Kohli struggled to score runs against almost every team in the competition.&nbsp;

The batting maestro managed only 341 runs in 16 matches at a poor average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. It was an abysmal season for the former RCB skipper, who was also dismissed on ducks thrice and was trolled heavily by a section of fans for his dismal show.

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>

However, Kohli has found support from the legendary Shoaib Akhtar after enduring a difficult season for RCB. The former Pakistan pacer has hit out at the critics of the RCB star and said he deserves respect for what he has done in international cricket and IPL. Kohli is the leading run-getter of all time in IPL history and has been one of India's best batters for several years now.

Akhtar called Kohli the greatest of all time and said as a Pakistani, he wishes to see the Indian batter play till the age of 45 and score as many as 10 international centuries. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring 100 centuries in international cricket and no batter has managed to come close to the feat. Kohli is the only active batter who can break Tendulkar's record as he has 70 hundreds to his name in international cricket at present.

“Before passing statements, people should understand that small kids look up to them. Say good things about Virat Kohli. Give him the respect he deserves. As a Pakistani, I am saying that he is the greatest player of all time. I want him to score 110 centuries in international cricket. I want him to play till the age of 45,” Akhtar said on Sportskeeda.

“This tough situation is preparing you for 110 centuries. People are writing you off, tweeting against you. If you tweet about Diwali, you are criticised. People tweet about your wife and kid. When you lose the World Cup, you are heavily criticised. Things cannot get any worse. Just go out there, and show everyone who Virat Kohli is,” 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>

Kohli has been rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home along with several other senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. He will be next seen in action when India travel to England for a one-off Test next month. Kohli will be hopeful of sparking a turnaround and scoring big in the Test match against England. 
&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended. While it was a great season for the franchise under new skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB superstar Virat Kohli had a forgetful campaign. Kohli struggled for consistency throughout the season and failed to fire with the bat. A lot was expected from Kohli in IPL 2022 after he gave up captaincy last year and was playing only as a batter this season. He was expected to bat freely and pile on runs for his team but that was not the case as Kohli struggled to score runs against almost every team in the competition. The batting maestro managed only 341 runs in 16 matches at a poor average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. It was an abysmal season for the former RCB skipper, who was also dismissed on ducks thrice and was trolled heavily by a section of fans for his dismal show. Also Read: No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain However, Kohli has found support from the legendary Shoaib Akhtar after enduring a difficult season for RCB. The former Pakistan pacer has hit out at the critics of the RCB star and said he deserves respect for what he has done in international cricket and IPL. Kohli is the leading run-getter of all time in IPL history and has been one of India's best batters for several years now. Akhtar called Kohli the greatest of all time and said as a Pakistani, he wishes to see the Indian batter play till the age of 45 and score as many as 10 international centuries. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring 100 centuries in international cricket and no batter has managed to come close to the feat. Kohli is the only active batter who can break Tendulkar's record as he has 70 hundreds to his name in international cricket at present. “Before passing statements, people should understand that small kids look up to them. Say good things about Virat Kohli. Give him the respect he deserves. As a Pakistani, I am saying that he is the greatest player of all time. I want him to score 110 centuries in international cricket. I want him to play till the age of 45,” Akhtar said on Sportskeeda. “This tough situation is preparing you for 110 centuries. People are writing you off, tweeting against you. If you tweet about Diwali, you are criticised. People tweet about your wife and kid. When you lose the World Cup, you are heavily criticised. Things cannot get any worse. Just go out there, and show everyone who Virat Kohli is,” he added. Also Read: Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title Kohli has been rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home along with several other senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. He will be next seen in action when India travel to England for a one-off Test next month. Kohli will be hopeful of sparking a turnaround and scoring big in the Test match against England.

Shoaib Akhtar slams Virat Kohli's critics: 'Give him the respect he deserves, he is the greatest of all time'

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many.

Now, Hardik is set for a return in Team India jersey as the white-ball side is set to host Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting on June 09 in New Delhi. For the unversed, the series will mark the 28-year-old Hardik's return as he last played for the national side during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Ahead of his return, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik, post IPL 2022 final, and suggested his batting slot for Team India for the SA T20Is.

Speaking to&nbsp;Star Sports, batting legend said,&nbsp;"I think he'll probably be slotted at five or six. Just imagine, if India has a Hardik Pandya and a Rishabh Pant at five or six. They can probably swap around a little bit -- that is going to be some explosive combination from the 14th to the 20th over. In six overs, you can probably expect even maybe 100-120 runs. They are capable of doing that. So, that's going to be an exciting aspect. That's something I'm really looking forward to -- Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya batting at five or six."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-south-africa-t20i-series-kl-rahul-led-india-set-to-reach-delhi-on-june-5-3-days-after-visitors-483771">India vs South Africa, T20I series: KL Rahul-led India set to reach Delhi on June 5; 3 days after visitors</a>

Hardik will be eager to make a mark in his return to India's white-ball side. With the 2022 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, in Australia, the IPL-winning captain will be desperate to be right on the money in blue jersey and continue to make heads turn.

India squad for SA T20Is:&nbsp;KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many.

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many. Now, Hardik is set for a return in Team India jersey as the white-ball side is set to host Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting on June 09 in New Delhi. For the unversed, the series will mark the 28-year-old Hardik's return as he last played for the national side during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Ahead of his return, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik, post IPL 2022 final, and suggested his batting slot for Team India for the SA T20Is. Speaking to Star Sports, batting legend said, "I think he'll probably be slotted at five or six. Just imagine, if India has a Hardik Pandya and a Rishabh Pant at five or six. They can probably swap around a little bit -- that is going to be some explosive combination from the 14th to the 20th over. In six overs, you can probably expect even maybe 100-120 runs. They are capable of doing that. So, that's going to be an exciting aspect. That's something I'm really looking forward to -- Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya batting at five or six." ALSO READ | India vs South Africa, T20I series: KL Rahul-led India set to reach Delhi on June 5; 3 days after visitors Hardik will be eager to make a mark in his return to India's white-ball side. With the 2022 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, in Australia, the IPL-winning captain will be desperate to be right on the money in blue jersey and continue to make heads turn. India squad for SA T20Is: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

India vs SA T20Is: Sunil Gavaskar suggests best batting slot for Hardik Pandya ahead of series vs Proteas

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

After the end of IPL 2022, cricketing action at the highest level resumes for Team India as they are set to host a five-match T20I series versus Temba Bavuma's South Africa starting on June 09. KL Rahul-led India will be eager to settle scores with the Proteas after being whitewashed in the three ODIs early this year, in the African nation.

According to a report in&nbsp;Cricbuzz, it has been learned that Rahul &amp; Co. will assemble in New Delhi on June 5. On the other hand, the&nbsp;South Africans will touch down in the national capital prior to the hosts, i.e. on June 2.&nbsp;

India and South Africa will play the series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on June 09. The action will then move to Cuttack for the second T20I (on June 12), Visakhapatnam&nbsp;(on June 14), and Rajkot (on June 17) with the series finale on June 19 in Bengaluru. The entire series will not have any bio-bubble, as confirmed by the BCCI Secretary recently.

For the unversed, India's Test squad will leave for England on June 16 whereas the members of the white-ball side will&nbsp;depart on June 23-24 for a two-match T20I series versus hosts&nbsp;Ireland. In the absence of head coach Dravid for the Ireland series, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman is set to take charge of the white-ball side.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-sa-t20is-bcci-secretary-jay-shah-confirms-no-bio-bubble-for-home-series-vs-proteas-483285">India vs SA, T20Is: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirms no bio-bubble for home series vs Proteas</a>

India squad: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen and Marco Jansen.

After the end of IPL 2022, cricketing action at the highest level resumes for Team India as they are set to host a five-match T20I series versus Temba Bavuma's South Africa starting on June 09.

After the end of IPL 2022, cricketing action at the highest level resumes for Team India as they are set to host a five-match T20I series versus Temba Bavuma's South Africa starting on June 09. KL Rahul-led India will be eager to settle scores with the Proteas after being whitewashed in the three ODIs early this year, in the African nation. According to a report in Cricbuzz, it has been learned that Rahul & Co. will assemble in New Delhi on June 5. On the other hand, the South Africans will touch down in the national capital prior to the hosts, i.e. on June 2. India and South Africa will play the series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on June 09. The action will then move to Cuttack for the second T20I (on June 12), Visakhapatnam (on June 14), and Rajkot (on June 17) with the series finale on June 19 in Bengaluru. The entire series will not have any bio-bubble, as confirmed by the BCCI Secretary recently. For the unversed, India's Test squad will leave for England on June 16 whereas the members of the white-ball side will depart on June 23-24 for a two-match T20I series versus hosts Ireland. In the absence of head coach Dravid for the Ireland series, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman is set to take charge of the white-ball side. ALSO READ | India vs SA, T20Is: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirms no bio-bubble for home series vs Proteas India squad: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik. South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen and Marco Jansen.

India vs South Africa, T20I series: KL Rahul-led India set to reach Delhi on June 5; 3 days after visitors

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 to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph

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

Not many had given Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT)a chance ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 earlier this year. The debutants failed to impress many with their tactics at the mega auction and were far from favourites for even a spot in the playoffs. However, Gujarat Titans went on to defy all the odds to beat Rajasthan Royals in the final on Sunday (May 29) and lift the IPL 2022 title. The Titans won their maiden IPL title in their debut season in the league to create history.

Hardik was exceptional as captain throughout the season for the Titans and also delivered a match-winning performance in the final. He stepped with the ball when his side needed him the most ad bowled a terrific spell against the Royals to finish with a three-wicket haul in the final.

Hardik finished with figures of 3/17 in his four overs to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs before scoring crucial 34 runs with the bat in the run chase. Gujarat Titans won the final comfortably after chasing down the target of 131 runs without breaking a sweat as Hardik lifted his fifth IPL trophy as captain.

The Gujarat Titans captain achieved some special feats and created some new records with his heroics in the final and the remainder of the season. The star all-rounder, who finished the season with 8 wickets and 487 runs in 16 matches became only the third captain to win a Man of the Match award in an IPL final and also surpassed MS Dhoni in the list of players with the highest number of IPL trophies.

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 -&nbsp;Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win</a>

Here is a look at some special feats achieved by Hardik Pandya in IPL 2022:

Hardik Pandya overtakes MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is one of the most successful captains and players in the history of the Indian Premier League. Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings to four IPL titles as captain. However, Hardik has now surpassed him on the list of most successful players in IPL history. Hardik has now won a total of five IPL titles - 4 with Mumbai Indians and 1 with Gujarat Titans. He is only behind MI skipper Rohit Sharma, who has six IPL titles to his name as a player.

Hardik Pandya 3rd captain to win Man of the Match in an IPL final

Thanks to his all-round heroics, Hardik&nbsp;became only the third captain after Anil Kumble and Rohit Sharma to win the Man of the Match award in an IPL final. Hardik contributed with both the bat and the ball for his side as he picked up three wickets and scored 34 runs against RR in the final to join Rohit and Kumble in the elite list.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/count-myself-lucky-winning-5-finals-hardik-pandya-after-inspiring-gujarat-titans-to-their-maiden-ipl-title-483395">'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik&nbsp;after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title</a>

2nd youngest captain to lift the&nbsp;IPL trophy

After leading Gujarat Titans to their maiden title triumph on Sunday, Hardik also became the second-youngest captain to achieve the feat. The 28-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal run as the captain of the side in their debut campaign and led them to glory. Rohit Sharma remains the youngest captain to win an IPL trophy at the age of 26 in 2013.

Special feat in T20 cricket&nbsp;

With his all-round effort for the Titans in the final against Rajasthan Royals, Hardik also achieved a special feat in T20 cricket. The star all-rounder became the first captain to score 25+ runs and pick up three wickets in the final of a T20 tournament.

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Not many had given Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT)a chance ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 earlier this year. The debutants failed to impress many with their tactics at the mega auction and were far from favourites for even a spot in the playoffs.

Not many had given Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT)a chance ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 earlier this year. The debutants failed to impress many with their tactics at the mega auction and were far from favourites for even a spot in the playoffs. However, Gujarat Titans went on to defy all the odds to beat Rajasthan Royals in the final on Sunday (May 29) and lift the IPL 2022 title. The Titans won their maiden IPL title in their debut season in the league to create history. Hardik was exceptional as captain throughout the season for the Titans and also delivered a match-winning performance in the final. He stepped with the ball when his side needed him the most ad bowled a terrific spell against the Royals to finish with a three-wicket haul in the final. Hardik finished with figures of 3/17 in his four overs to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs before scoring crucial 34 runs with the bat in the run chase. Gujarat Titans won the final comfortably after chasing down the target of 131 runs without breaking a sweat as Hardik lifted his fifth IPL trophy as captain. The Gujarat Titans captain achieved some special feats and created some new records with his heroics in the final and the remainder of the season. The star all-rounder, who finished the season with 8 wickets and 487 runs in 16 matches became only the third captain to win a Man of the Match award in an IPL final and also surpassed MS Dhoni in the list of players with the highest number of IPL trophies. Also Read: WATCH - Hardik Pandya does an MS Dhoni, hands over trophy to GT youngsters after IPL 2022 win Here is a look at some special feats achieved by Hardik Pandya in IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya overtakes MS Dhoni MS Dhoni is one of the most successful captains and players in the history of the Indian Premier League. Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings to four IPL titles as captain. However, Hardik has now surpassed him on the list of most successful players in IPL history. Hardik has now won a total of five IPL titles - 4 with Mumbai Indians and 1 with Gujarat Titans. He is only behind MI skipper Rohit Sharma, who has six IPL titles to his name as a player. Hardik Pandya 3rd captain to win Man of the Match in an IPL final Thanks to his all-round heroics, Hardik became only the third captain after Anil Kumble and Rohit Sharma to win the Man of the Match award in an IPL final. Hardik contributed with both the bat and the ball for his side as he picked up three wickets and scored 34 runs against RR in the final to join Rohit and Kumble in the elite list. Also Read: 'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title 2nd youngest captain to lift the IPL trophy After leading Gujarat Titans to their maiden title triumph on Sunday, Hardik also became the second-youngest captain to achieve the feat. The 28-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal run as the captain of the side in their debut campaign and led them to glory. Rohit Sharma remains the youngest captain to win an IPL trophy at the age of 26 in 2013. Special feat in T20 cricket With his all-round effort for the Titans in the final against Rajasthan Royals, Hardik also achieved a special feat in T20 cricket. The star all-rounder became the first captain to score 25+ runs and pick up three wickets in the final of a T20 tournament. ×

Surpassing Dhoni to joining Rohit in elite list: List of records created by Hardik Pandya in GT's IPL triumph

Gujarat Titans scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Sunday (May 29) as they went on to win their maiden IPL title in their debut season in the tournament. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably in the summit clash to clinch their first IPL trophy under the captaincy of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who delivered a Man of the Match performance in the final to take his side home.

Hardik picked up three wickets to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a paltry total of 130 runs after Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. The GT skipper followed up his bowling heroics with a crucial 34 off 30 balls with the bat to help GT chase down 131 runs with 11 balls to spare and win their maiden IPL trophy.

While Hardik was the star of the final for Gujarat Titans, the likes of Shubman Gill and David Miller also continued their fine form with important knocks of unbeaten 45 and unbeaten 32. Gujarat Titans are the first team to have won the IPL trophy in their debut season since RR in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008.

There were a number of individuals who shone for their respective teams throughout the tournament and were deservingly awarded for their heroics following the conclusion of the final on Sunday. While RR opener Jos Buttler won the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs this season, his teammate Yuzvendra Chahal bagged the Purple Cap for being the highest wicket-taker.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/count-myself-lucky-winning-5-finals-hardik-pandya-after-inspiring-gujarat-titans-to-their-maiden-ipl-title-483395">'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title</a>

Buttler scored a whopping 863 runs in IPL 2022 - the second-most by any batter in a single season after Virat Kohli while Chahal picked up 27 wickets in the tournament. SRH pacer Umran Malik, who left many in awe with his sensational pace, was awarded the Emerging Player of the Year for his bowling exploits.

Here is the complete list of award winners from IPL 2022:

Orange Cap - Jos Buttler

Purple cap - Yuzvendra Chahal

Most valuable player of the season - Jos Buttler

Emerging player of the year - Umran Malik

Most Sixes - Jos Buttler

Most fours&nbsp;- Jos Buttler

Super Striker of the season - Dinesh Karthik

Gamechanger of the season - Jos Buttler

Fairplay award - Rajasthan Royals

Powerplayer of the season - Jos Buttler

Fastest delivery of the season - Lockie Ferguson

Catch of the season - Evin Lewis

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>

Umran would have also won the fastest delivery of the tournament award for clocking 157 kmph this season. However, his record was broken by GT pacer Lockie Ferguson during the final on Sunday after he bowled a 157.32 kmph yorker to Buttler during RR's innings.&nbsp;

Hardik became only the third captain after the likes of Rohit Sharma and Anil Kumble to win the Man of the Match award in the final of IPL. His 3 wickets and 34 runs were crucial for the Titans in their win against the Royals in the blockbuster summit clash.

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Gujarat Titans scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Sunday (May 29) as they went on to win their maiden IPL title in their debut season in the tournament.

Gujarat Titans scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Sunday (May 29) as they went on to win their maiden IPL title in their debut season in the tournament. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably in the summit clash to clinch their first IPL trophy under the captaincy of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who delivered a Man of the Match performance in the final to take his side home. Hardik picked up three wickets to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a paltry total of 130 runs after Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. The GT skipper followed up his bowling heroics with a crucial 34 off 30 balls with the bat to help GT chase down 131 runs with 11 balls to spare and win their maiden IPL trophy. While Hardik was the star of the final for Gujarat Titans, the likes of Shubman Gill and David Miller also continued their fine form with important knocks of unbeaten 45 and unbeaten 32. Gujarat Titans are the first team to have won the IPL trophy in their debut season since RR in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. There were a number of individuals who shone for their respective teams throughout the tournament and were deservingly awarded for their heroics following the conclusion of the final on Sunday. While RR opener Jos Buttler won the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs this season, his teammate Yuzvendra Chahal bagged the Purple Cap for being the highest wicket-taker. Also Read: 'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title Buttler scored a whopping 863 runs in IPL 2022 - the second-most by any batter in a single season after Virat Kohli while Chahal picked up 27 wickets in the tournament. SRH pacer Umran Malik, who left many in awe with his sensational pace, was awarded the Emerging Player of the Year for his bowling exploits. Here is the complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap - Jos Buttler Purple cap - Yuzvendra Chahal Most valuable player of the season - Jos Buttler Emerging player of the year - Umran Malik Most Sixes - Jos Buttler Most fours - Jos Buttler Super Striker of the season - Dinesh Karthik Gamechanger of the season - Jos Buttler Fairplay award - Rajasthan Royals Powerplayer of the season - Jos Buttler Fastest delivery of the season - Lockie Ferguson Catch of the season - Evin Lewis Also Read: Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans claim maiden title: Complete list of IPL winners since 2008 Umran would have also won the fastest delivery of the tournament award for clocking 157 kmph this season. However, his record was broken by GT pacer Lockie Ferguson during the final on Sunday after he bowled a 157.32 kmph yorker to Buttler during RR's innings. Hardik became only the third captain after the likes of Rohit Sharma and Anil Kumble to win the Man of the Match award in the final of IPL. His 3 wickets and 34 runs were crucial for the Titans in their win against the Royals in the blockbuster summit clash. ×

Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year

Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign. Hardik was roped in by GT ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians. The star all-rounder was also appointed as the captain of his side and the moves turned out to be a masterstroke as Hardik inspired his team to their first title in his first season as captain.

Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the final of IPL 2022 on Sunday (May 29) to clinch the elusive trophy and cap off a fairytale run this season. Gujarat Titans were one of the most consistent teams throughout the league stage and were the first to reach the playoffs. They came up against Rajasthan Royals twice in the knockout stage and defeated them on both occasions to be crowned champions.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik's captaincy as he spoke about his rise as captain in IPL 2022. Not many had expected the all-rounder to lead his team to their maiden title in their very first season, however, GT managed to pull off some miraculous wins under Hardik to go all the way in the tournament.

“Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody’s estimation (Hardik’s reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about," Gavaskar said on Star Sports following GT's win over RR in the IPL 2022 final.

“We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy. But this now, the way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/count-myself-lucky-winning-5-finals-hardik-pandya-after-inspiring-gujarat-titans-to-their-maiden-ipl-title-483395">'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title</a>

Gavaskar also threw his weight behind Hardik as a potential contender to become India's next captain in the future. Currently, Rohit Sharma is in charge of the Indian team across formats and several players are being groomed to take up the role in the future. Gavaskar believes the leadership qualities shown by Hardik in IPL 2022 have opened the doors for him to be able to captain the Indian team one day.

“When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future. So that’s exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic,” Gavaskar explained.

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>

There were concerns over Hardik's bowling ahead of the start of the season as the all-rounder was making a comeback after a long break and had not bowled too much in the IPL or international cricket over the last couple of years. While he didn't bowl regularly, the GT skipper stepped up with the ball when his team needed him.

In the final against RR, he was the pick of the bowlers for GT with a three-wicket haul while conceding only 17 runs off his four overs. Hardik finished the season with 487 runs and 8 wickets in 15 matches for the Titans to help them win their maiden title in debut season.

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Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign.

Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign. Hardik was roped in by GT ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians. The star all-rounder was also appointed as the captain of his side and the moves turned out to be a masterstroke as Hardik inspired his team to their first title in his first season as captain. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the final of IPL 2022 on Sunday (May 29) to clinch the elusive trophy and cap off a fairytale run this season. Gujarat Titans were one of the most consistent teams throughout the league stage and were the first to reach the playoffs. They came up against Rajasthan Royals twice in the knockout stage and defeated them on both occasions to be crowned champions. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik's captaincy as he spoke about his rise as captain in IPL 2022. Not many had expected the all-rounder to lead his team to their maiden title in their very first season, however, GT managed to pull off some miraculous wins under Hardik to go all the way in the tournament. “Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody’s estimation (Hardik’s reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about," Gavaskar said on Star Sports following GT's win over RR in the IPL 2022 final. “We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy. But this now, the way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities," he added. Also Read: 'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title Gavaskar also threw his weight behind Hardik as a potential contender to become India's next captain in the future. Currently, Rohit Sharma is in charge of the Indian team across formats and several players are being groomed to take up the role in the future. Gavaskar believes the leadership qualities shown by Hardik in IPL 2022 have opened the doors for him to be able to captain the Indian team one day. “When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future. So that’s exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic,” Gavaskar explained. Also Read: Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year There were concerns over Hardik's bowling ahead of the start of the season as the all-rounder was making a comeback after a long break and had not bowled too much in the IPL or international cricket over the last couple of years. While he didn't bowl regularly, the GT skipper stepped up with the ball when his team needed him. In the final against RR, he was the pick of the bowlers for GT with a three-wicket haul while conceding only 17 runs off his four overs. Hardik finished the season with 487 runs and 8 wickets in 15 matches for the Titans to help them win their maiden title in debut season. ×

Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Sunil Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph

Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably with 11 balls to spare to become only the second team after RR to win the elusive trophy in their debut season. RR had won their first IPL title in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008.

It was a lop-sided final with Gujarat Titans dominating the proceedings right from the start of the game. Skipper Hardik Pandya delivered a brilliant performance with the ball as he bagged a three-wicket haul to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs.

Opener Shubman Gill then slammed an unbeaten 45 while Pandya and David Miller played crucial knocks of 34 and 32 runs respectively to take GT over the line comfortably in the run chase. It was a comprehensive win from the Titans, who were also the most consistent teams throughout the league stage of the tournament.

Gill, who won his maiden IPL title with the Titans, was elated after the memorable triumph and compared it to a World Cup win. The former India U-19 star, who was part of the Prithvi Shaw-led India U-19 team which won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2018, said winning an IPL trophy was equivalent to winning a World Cup.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-for-india-captaincy-sunil-gavaskar-throws-weight-behind-gt-skipper-after-ipl-2022-triumph-483410">Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph</a>

"Obviously, it (title win) means a lot. After winning the U-19 World Cup, I think winning an IPL is as big as winning a World Cup," Gill said speaking to Harsha Bhogle after the final.

"This is my fifth year and I am fortunate enough to win the IPL this time. I wanted to be there till the end, and that’s what the talk was about with the coaches, and I am glad that we came over the line. Our bowlers bowled really well to restrict them to 130. We initially thought that if we could get them under 150, it would be a good target for us to chase down, but fortunately it was even less than 150 and we did the job for the team," he added.

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: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShubmanGill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShubmanGill</a> hit the title-winning runs for the <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> &amp; here's how he summed up his emotions. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTvRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/VXYeCXm4W9">pic.twitter.com/VXYeCXm4W9</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1530982394471526402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<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"> </a><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">Buttler to Chahal -&nbsp;Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022&nbsp;</a>

Gill was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad last year and was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022. Gill had joined KKR in 2018 and spent four seasons with the franchise failing to win his maiden trophy. He was slotted in as an opener at GT and went on to play an instrumental role in their maiden title triumph this year.

Gill was consistent throughout the tournament and managed to step up when his team required. He finished the tournament with 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of over 34.50 and a strike rate of over 132. He was the second-highest run-getter for GT behind skipper Hardik this season.

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Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season.

Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably with 11 balls to spare to become only the second team after RR to win the elusive trophy in their debut season. RR had won their first IPL title in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. It was a lop-sided final with Gujarat Titans dominating the proceedings right from the start of the game. Skipper Hardik Pandya delivered a brilliant performance with the ball as he bagged a three-wicket haul to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs. Opener Shubman Gill then slammed an unbeaten 45 while Pandya and David Miller played crucial knocks of 34 and 32 runs respectively to take GT over the line comfortably in the run chase. It was a comprehensive win from the Titans, who were also the most consistent teams throughout the league stage of the tournament. Gill, who won his maiden IPL title with the Titans, was elated after the memorable triumph and compared it to a World Cup win. The former India U-19 star, who was part of the Prithvi Shaw-led India U-19 team which won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2018, said winning an IPL trophy was equivalent to winning a World Cup. Also Read: Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph "Obviously, it (title win) means a lot. After winning the U-19 World Cup, I think winning an IPL is as big as winning a World Cup," Gill said speaking to Harsha Bhogle after the final. "This is my fifth year and I am fortunate enough to win the IPL this time. I wanted to be there till the end, and that’s what the talk was about with the coaches, and I am glad that we came over the line. Our bowlers bowled really well to restrict them to 130. We initially thought that if we could get them under 150, it would be a good target for us to chase down, but fortunately it was even less than 150 and we did the job for the team," he added. : @ShubmanGill hit the title-winning runs for the @gujarat_titans & here's how he summed up his emotions. #TATAIPL | #GTvRR pic.twitter.com/VXYeCXm4W9 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2022 × Also Read: Buttler to Chahal - Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022 Gill was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad last year and was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022. Gill had joined KKR in 2018 and spent four seasons with the franchise failing to win his maiden trophy. He was slotted in as an opener at GT and went on to play an instrumental role in their maiden title triumph this year. Gill was consistent throughout the tournament and managed to step up when his team required. He finished the tournament with 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of over 34.50 and a strike rate of over 132. He was the second-highest run-getter for GT behind skipper Hardik this season. ×

'As big as winning a World Cup': Shubman Gill reacts after Gujarat Titans lift IPL 2022 trophy - WATCH

Rajasthan Royals (RR) dream of paying a perfect tribute to the late Shane Warne with a memorable triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 remain unfulfilled as they lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the tournament on Sunday (May 29). It was a dominant performance from the Hardik Pandya-led Titans in the final as they outclassed by seven wickets to lift their maiden IPL trophy in their debut season.

RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first in the summit clash. However, the decision ended up backfiring as RR batters crumbed under pressure on the big stage. Jos Buttler was once again the top-scorer for the team with 39 runs off 35 balls as RR were restricted to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs.

Hardik Pandya &amp; Co. ended up chasing down the target of 131 runs with 11 balls to spare to win the final and clinch their maiden IPL trophy. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh called RR's over-dependence on Buttler one of the major reasons behind their loss in the final.

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>

Harbhajan also felt opting to bat first was not the right decision from Samson and that they should have chased in the final. "They could have done a lot of things differently. Firstly, I felt they should have chased, but they chose to bat first, and then they played some shots, which they will think should not have been played; they should have played according to the situation," Harbhajan said on Star Sports after the final.

"They should have strung partnerships; 160 runs are enough in a final. They did not bat well. This team's players were overly dependent on Jos Buttler, and that is what happened; they got exposed when Jos Buttler didn't fire," he added.

Buttler enjoyed a phenomenal season with the bat for the Royals as he finished as the highest run-getter of the tournament with a staggering 863 runs from 17 matches at an impressive average of 57.73 and a strike rate of 149.05. He played an instrumental role in taking his team to the final but couldn't get them over the line in the summit clash.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/as-big-as-winning-a-world-cup-shubman-gill-reacts-after-gujarat-titans-lift-ipl-2022-trophy-watch-483459">'As big as winning a World Cup': Shubman Gill reacts after Gujarat Titans lift IPL 2022 trophy - WATCH</a>

While he pointed out how RR were heavily dependent on Buttler for runs, Harbhajan also rightfully called out RR's over-reliance on Yuzvendra Chahal with the ball. While the other bowlers in the side were not consistent, Chahal was among the wickets throughout the season and finished with 27 scalps to bag the Purple Cap.

"When they look back, Jos Buttler did 80% of the job in the batting, and similarly 70-75% job was done by Yuzi Chahal in the bowling, so the others did 20-25% only in total; that's not enough," said Harbhajan, who won three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and his fourth with Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

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Rajasthan Royals (RR) dream of paying a perfect tribute to the late Shane Warne with a memorable triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 remain unfulfilled as they lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the tournament on Sunday (May 29).

Rajasthan Royals (RR) dream of paying a perfect tribute to the late Shane Warne with a memorable triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 remain unfulfilled as they lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the tournament on Sunday (May 29). It was a dominant performance from the Hardik Pandya-led Titans in the final as they outclassed by seven wickets to lift their maiden IPL trophy in their debut season. RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first in the summit clash. However, the decision ended up backfiring as RR batters crumbed under pressure on the big stage. Jos Buttler was once again the top-scorer for the team with 39 runs off 35 balls as RR were restricted to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs. Hardik Pandya & Co. ended up chasing down the target of 131 runs with 11 balls to spare to win the final and clinch their maiden IPL trophy. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh called RR's over-dependence on Buttler one of the major reasons behind their loss in the final. Also Read: Ashish Nehra becomes 1st Indian to achieve huge feat after Gujarat Titans win IPL 2022 Harbhajan also felt opting to bat first was not the right decision from Samson and that they should have chased in the final. "They could have done a lot of things differently. Firstly, I felt they should have chased, but they chose to bat first, and then they played some shots, which they will think should not have been played; they should have played according to the situation," Harbhajan said on Star Sports after the final. "They should have strung partnerships; 160 runs are enough in a final. They did not bat well. This team's players were overly dependent on Jos Buttler, and that is what happened; they got exposed when Jos Buttler didn't fire," he added. Buttler enjoyed a phenomenal season with the bat for the Royals as he finished as the highest run-getter of the tournament with a staggering 863 runs from 17 matches at an impressive average of 57.73 and a strike rate of 149.05. He played an instrumental role in taking his team to the final but couldn't get them over the line in the summit clash. Also Read: 'As big as winning a World Cup': Shubman Gill reacts after Gujarat Titans lift IPL 2022 trophy - WATCH While he pointed out how RR were heavily dependent on Buttler for runs, Harbhajan also rightfully called out RR's over-reliance on Yuzvendra Chahal with the ball. While the other bowlers in the side were not consistent, Chahal was among the wickets throughout the season and finished with 27 scalps to bag the Purple Cap. "When they look back, Jos Buttler did 80% of the job in the batting, and similarly 70-75% job was done by Yuzi Chahal in the bowling, so the others did 20-25% only in total; that's not enough," said Harbhajan, who won three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and his fourth with Chennai Super Kings in 2018. ×

They were overly dependent on Jos Buttler: Harbhajan Singh explains reason behind RR's loss in IPL 2022 final

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

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