Gujarat claim IPL title to cap dream debut season

Debutants Gujarat Titans have been crowned IPL champions after a fairytale first season.

Gujarat, including Australian batsman Matthew Wade, beat the 2008 inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals, by seven wickets in front of 100,000 ecstatic fans in their home ground in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya conjured up a stellar all-round display as his team clinched the low-scoring final with 11 balls to spare.

Opting to bat first, Rajasthan never got going and posted a below-par 9-130. Jos Buttler, this IPL's leading scorer, top scored for them with a rather subdued 39 from 35 balls with five boundaries.

Image Id: 1534B12867DF488A9CF666626C71E87D Image Caption: Hardik Pandya celebrates the big wicket of Jos Buttler // Sportzpics-BCCI

Buttler began cautiously, going at a run-a-ball rate and hoping to cut lose towards the end but it was not to be.

Pandya (3-17) led by example, claiming the crucial wickets of counterpart Sanju Samson, opener Buttler and Rajasthan's middle-order linchpin Shimron Hetmyer.

Gujarat lost Wriddhiman Saha and Wade cheaply but Pandya combined with Shubman Gill in a 63-run stand to help Gujarat overcome a slow start.

Wade, holding his spot at No.3, came in during the second over after Prasidh Krishna bowled Saha, then crashed that bowler for one mighty six. However, when New Zealander Trent Boult got a delivery angling down the leg side to straighten, Wade could only chip it to mid-wicket for Riyan Das to take a simple catch and leave Gujarat a 2-23.

Image Id: 48B101C56B3349B4B8AE4606B78E70DE Image Caption: Matthew Wade launches a six in the IPL final // Sportzpics-BCCI

Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Pandya for 34 runs to inject some excitement into the match but Gill's risk-free accumulation of runs and David Miller's quickfire 32 not out from 19 balls helped Gujarat to romp home in the penultimate over.

Opener Gill remained unbeaten on 45, sealing victory with a six and celebrating it by removing his helmet and letting out a roar.

"I wanted to show what I had worked hard for," Pandya, who also won the player-of-the-match award, said of his bowling efforts.

"Today was the day I saved the best for."

Pandya said he had curbed his natural aggressive batting to adjust to the conditions.

 

Image Id: EE6FA25B9DBA49688E89062640317993 Image Caption: Gujarat Titans celebrate their title. Wade is far right // Sportzpics-BCCI

 

"I will take the trophy any day over striking at 160. My team comes first for me."

Englishman Buttler was adjudged the tournament's Most Valuable Player for his 863 runs from 17 matches, including a record-equalling four centuries.

"Exceeded all my expectation for the season, apart from today," Buttler said.

"A big congratulations to Hardik and his team, they are the deserving champions." 

Australians in IPL 2022

Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Marsh, David Warner

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade

Kolkata Knight Riders: Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

Mumbai Indians: Tim David, Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis

Rajasthan Royals: Nathan Coulter-Nile

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Jason Behrendorff

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Sean Abbott