Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans have become only the second team to lift IPL title in debut season. Captain Hardik Pandya put on an all-round show as Gujarat Titans thrashed Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets to lift their maiden title in front of a record crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
With more than one lakh fand cheering them vociferously, and their anthem ‘Aava De’ (bring it on!) blaring at full volume at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night, Shubhman Gill, who cracked an unbeaten 45 (43b, 3×4, 1×6) finished off the proceedings in style for the Titans, pulling Obed McCoy for a six to seal a seven-wicket triumph in the final over a heartbroken Rajasthan Royals.
While Gill played the anchor’s role in the chase to perfection, the Titans owed their win in the summit clash to Pandya, who produced a top-class act with the ball, taking three for 17 to restrict the Royals to just 130 for nine.
Chasing just 131, the Titans were in trouble when they slipped to 23 for two in the fifth over but Pandya then pitched in with the bat, producing a vital 34-run knock (30b, 3×4, 1×6). The India allrounder added 63 in 53 balls for the third wicket with Gill to calm his team’s nerves. Pandya’s departure — caught at slip by Yashasvi Jaiswal off Yuzvendra Chahal — brought some cheer to the Royals, but their joy was short-lived, as Gill held one end up firmly, while David ‘Killer’ Miller (32 not out, 19b, 3×4, 1×6) uncorked the finishing act for one last time in IPL-2022.
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