New Indian Premier League entrants GT defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the 2022 decider at the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 29 to clinch their maiden title.
Hardik Pandya’s side put on an all-round show in the IPL 2022 final against the Royals, as was the case during their entire glorious campaign.
Rajasthan stood at 59/1 at the end of eight over, with Orange Cap holder Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson at the crease, after Yash Dayal had bounced out young Yashasvi Jaiswal for 22 earlier.
Hardik led from the front thereafter, bagging the key wickets of opposite number Samson, Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer in an outstanding four-over spell, reading 3/17. RR soon stumbled to 98/6, and somehow dragged themselves to 130/9 at the end of 20 overs.
A fiery opening burst from Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna had GT reduced to 23/2 in the fifth over, with Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade dismissed. Pandya stepped up yet again, joining an uncertain Shubman Gill for a steady 63-run stand, before being undone by a Yuzvendra Chahal special for 34. It was Chahal’s 27th scalp of the season, making him the Purple Cap holder.
David Miller then pulled off wide range of strokes during an unbeaten 19-ball 32*, before Gill’s towering six off a pull-stroke against Obed McCoy sealed a memorable win.
It was only the second instance of a team winning the IPL in their first season of participation, after RR had done so in the inaugural edition in 2008. An unfancied side on paper, not given a chance by many in the build-up to the tournament, GT impressed experts and fans alike with their outstanding show.
Here are the best of Twitter reactions in praise of the IPL 2022 champions:
