IPL 2022: ‘Kind of stuff dreams are made off’, Twitterati congratulate GT on winning maiden title – Firstcricket News, Firstpost

Newcomers Gujarat Titans won the Indian Premier League in their first attempt on Sunday with allrounder Hardik Pandya leading his team to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the final.

Pandya grabbed 3/17 with impeccable medium-fast bowling to restrict Rajasthan to 130-9 after Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bat.

GT clinched IPL 2022. Sportzpics

Pandya then made a crucial 34 off 30 balls as Gujarat reached 133-3 in 18.1 overs in front of a raucous crowd of more than 100,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Opening batter Shubman Gill top-scored with an unbeaten 45 and sealed the memorable win with a six off Obed McCoy over deep square leg.

Pandya’s superb bowling in the middle overs derailed Rajasthan’s bid for a second IPL title since winning the inaugural edition in 2008.

Jos Buttler made only 39 off 35 balls but still finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 863 runs, and Samson scored 14, before both fell to Pandya.

The Gujarat skipper then made sure Rajasthan was without power-hitters in the death overs when he had Shimron Hetmyer (11) caught off his own bowling off his last ball of a terrific four-over spell.

Trent Boult (1-14), and this season’s top wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal (1-20), bowled well for Rajasthan but Pandya watchfully negotiated the middle overs by combining in a 63-run stand with Gill for the third wicket.

Chahal ended up with 27 wickets in the tournament when Pandya was caught in the slips in the 14th over.

David Miller (32 not out) and Gill comfortably took Gujarat to the winning target.

Twitterati were overjoyed by Gujarat Titans winning the title. Here’s how they reacted:

Maiden title in their debut season!

Top team effort

With inputs from AP